Notes From the book "Straw Dogs"

[VanishingPoi]

I could have written this myself and have on various occasions.

Straw Dogs
1. Humans have a limitless capacity for self-delusion, even the most rational among us.
2. Wars and destruction are inevitable, especially as the population gets larger.
3. Technology doesn’t make us happier, it only allows more people to live and to work less, albeit less happily.
4. We are merely a part of the animal kingdom. We are neither a special creation nor particularly unique.
5. Technology and science will progress, but human nature won’t. Therefore, we will use technology for both evil and good purposes and lots of destruction will inevitably occur.
6. Religious impulse and drive for purpose are as innate as our drive for sex and lead to our need for salvation.
7. Becoming more “moral” as a society can’t happen for sustained periods of time.
8. Most jobs in the economy are for entertainment, not necessity.
9. Getting rid of religion won’t make society better.
10. The self is an illusion and this “self” controls very little.
11. Our conscious mind plays a very small role, and we resist this because it strips us from a sense of control.
12. The unexamined life may be worth living.
13. The earth is self-regulating and we will be destroyed far sooner than we will destroy the earth.
14. Only in the modern era is work considered virtuous. This is because we believe in progress and progress condemns idleness.
15. Markets are run by hysteria, not rationality.

[nailer]

Pretty good Peckinpah flick.

John Gray's list has insight, but comes across as judgmental and preachy to me. From Wiki: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gray_(philosopher))

Gray’s Straw Dogs has been criticised by Terry Eagleton, who has written: "mixing nihilism and New Ageism in equal measure, Gray scoffs at the notion of progress for 150 pages before conceding that there is something to be said for anaesthetics. The enemy in his sights is not so much a Straw Dog as a Straw Man: the kind of starry-eyed rationalist who passed away with John Stuart Mill, but who he has to pretend still rules the world".

Danny Postel also took issue with Straw Dogs. Postel stated that Gray's claim that environmental destruction was the result of humanity's flawed nature would be "welcome news to the captains of industry and the architects of the global economy; the ecological devastation they leave in their wake, according to Gray, has nothing to do with their exploits." Postel also claimed that too much of Straw Dogs rested on "blanket assertion", and criticised Gray's use of the term "plague of people" as an outdated " neo-Malthusian persiflage about overpopulation". Postel strongly condemned Gray for outlining "complete political passivity. There is no point whatsoever in our attempting to make the world a less cruel or more livable place."

[VanishingPoi]

Originally Posted by nailer

Pretty good Peckinpah flick.

John Gray's list has insight, but comes across as judgmental and preachy to me. From Wiki: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gray_(philosopher))

Gray’s Straw Dogs has been criticised by Terry Eagleton, who has written: "mixing nihilism and New Ageism in equal measure, Gray scoffs at the notion of progress for 150 pages before conceding that there is something to be said for anaesthetics. The enemy in his sights is not so much a Straw Dog as a Straw Man: the kind of starry-eyed rationalist who passed away with John Stuart Mill, but who he has to pretend still rules the world".

Danny Postel also took issue with Straw Dogs. Postel stated that Gray's claim that environmental destruction was the result of humanity's flawed nature would be "welcome news to the captains of industry and the architects of the global economy; the ecological devastation they leave in their wake, according to Gray, has nothing to do with their exploits." Postel also claimed that too much of Straw Dogs rested on "blanket assertion", and criticised Gray's use of the term "plague of people" as an outdated " neo-Malthusian persiflage about overpopulation". Postel strongly condemned Gray for outlining "complete political passivity. There is no point whatsoever in our attempting to make the world a less cruel or more livable place."

Are you suggesting I care? lol

[VanishingPoi]

I like Terry Eagleton for other reasons, primarily that he knows Karl Marx was right.

[nailer]

Originally Posted by VanishingPoi

Are you suggesting I care? lol

Care about what?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by VanishingPoi

I like Terry Eagleton for other reasons, primarily that he knows Karl Marx was right.

About what? I much prefer Groucho Marx to Karl Marx.

[donquixote99]

This list could be discussed, but clearly that's not the idea in posting it....

[VanishingPoi]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

This list could be discussed, but clearly that's not the idea in posting it....

Yes, you have that right! Thank you.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by finnbow

About what? I much prefer Groucho Marx to Karl Marx.

Gummo is terribly under-appreciated.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by VanishingPoi

8. Most jobs in the economy are for entertainment, not necessity.

Is entertainment necessary?