Re: Goals

jonwill (jonwill@erols.com)
Fri, 14 May 1999 10:00:56 -0400

> Billy Brown wrote:
>
> The only way to create a unified vision for an entire society is to resort
> to force. You must seize the reigns of power, outlaw and suppress rival
> viewpoints, and require adherence to your chosen philosophy at gunpoint.
> The result is predictable - no matter how noble the original ideas were,
> your revolution will end up being run by the smartest, most unscrupulous
> thugs in the country. From there you take a quick road to whatever form of
> authoritarianism they find most convenient.

While no two humans are exactly the same, we are all of one race, the human race, and we all share the experience of life in an essentially identical carbon based life form structure. We all work for continuing survival while in this structure, and hope for a happy, safe, and good life for ourselves and loved ones. Therefore, everyone has a common desire for the best life attainable. Since visions of the best life attainable are as numerous as the number of people, the only universally acceptable definition would be, "the ability of each person to live as they desire". Humans could voluntarily coordinate their efforts to obtain that ability.

> IMO, we are much better off recognizing that no one has all the answers,

True. Therefore, humanity should devote some more resources toward finding the answers.

With the right knowledge all illness can be cured. With the right knowledge pollution can be eliminated. With the right knowledge all tangible and intangible human needs and desires can be fulfilled. With the right knowledge, any problem can be solved, and any desired result can be achieved. With the right knowledge everyone can have a high quality of life, a heaven on earth, a Utopia. Therefore, knowledge is the key to a better world. If humanity recognized this reality, and devoted more resources toward knowledge, we could accelerate the pace at which we reach a better world.

The three basic ways of interacting with knowledge, are: 1) dissemination from accessing stored information, through teaching, or from other methods of communication; 2) use through actions based on awareness of knowledge; and 3) acquisition of new knowledge from research, through experience, or from other avenues of discovery. Humanity has achieved proficient methods for dissemination of information and simply needs to better utilize the same in order to facilitate the use of knowledge. Yet, less than 2% of global productivity is devoted toward finding new knowledge (research and development). Clearly Humanity could and should be investing more in its future.

Cheers,
Jon
http://www.erols.com/jonwill/