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Herder & Human Identity

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 10:00 am
by Philosophy Now
Brian King says that to understand the herd, you need a Herder.

https://philosophynow.org/issues/112/Herder_and_Human_Identity

Re: Herder & Human Identity

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:15 pm
by Belinda
Human nature is different in degree from the natures of other animals and plants. The central nervous systems of humans in states of waking awareness with no identifiable lesions (such as Alzheimers disease)is such that that human memories and human powers of reflection transcend all cultures, social classes, levels of education, and levels of native intelligence.

The sense of self is basic, is the default. Linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity vary the ways in which we define our selves and are contingent upon cultures. Determinism and human freedom are therefore compatible.

An analogy is H2O . H2O is always H2O whether it's ice, fluid, or steam. Human nature and sense of self evolved from primitive organisms, little wormy beings invisible to the naked eye, through the evolution of the CNS towards the sort of CNS that can both memorise and reflect on memories. The concept of culture is probably solely human ,I daresay:

the power of human cultures is determined by the fact of A) human language and its creative metaphorical type of structure(e.g. bees' culture doesn't do creativity) and B) the human sense of self which is highly developed:

the variety of human cultures varies in details and proliferation of details from the cultures of other intelligent mammals and birds, however this is a species related difference of degree not a difference of kind. Like H2O staying H2O as ice, water, or steam.

It's political nonsense that humans' transcendent aim is towards some goal or other.

Re: Herder & Human Identity

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:50 pm
by Age
Belinda wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:15 pm
It's political nonsense that humans' transcendent aim is towards some goal or other.
Why is some goal nonsense, to you?

Re: Herder & Human Identity

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 1:23 pm
by Impenitent
Belinda wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:15 pm Human nature is different in degree from the natures of other animals and plants. The central nervous systems of humans in states of waking awareness with no identifiable lesions (such as Alzheimers disease)is such that that human memories and human powers of reflection transcend all cultures, social classes, levels of education, and levels of native intelligence.

The sense of self is basic, is the default. Linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity vary the ways in which we define our selves and are contingent upon cultures. Determinism and human freedom are therefore compatible.

An analogy is H2O . H2O is always H2O whether it's ice, fluid, or steam. Human nature and sense of self evolved from primitive organisms, little wormy beings invisible to the naked eye, through the evolution of the CNS towards the sort of CNS that can both memorise and reflect on memories. The concept of culture is probably solely human ,I daresay:

the power of human cultures is determined by the fact of A) human language and its creative metaphorical type of structure(e.g. bees' culture doesn't do creativity) and B) the human sense of self which is highly developed:

the variety of human cultures varies in details and proliferation of details from the cultures of other intelligent mammals and birds, however this is a species related difference of degree not a difference of kind. Like H2O staying H2O as ice, water, or steam.

It's political nonsense that humans' transcendent aim is towards some goal or other.
H2O is always H2O- but no, H2O with more or less space (and speed of molecular movement) between the molecules gives you the different state of matter... fast H2O is not slow H2O...

-Imp

Re: Herder & Human Identity

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 5:17 pm
by Belinda
Age wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:50 pm
Belinda wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:15 pm
It's political nonsense that humans' transcendent aim is towards some goal or other.
Why is some goal nonsense, to you?
You are sharp -witted, Age
Not any goal, Age. It is very good for people to have goals. Indeed, I suspect that people who lack goals are unhappy.

Please let me rephrase.
People as individuals do aim at goals, some of the goals immediate,( I must wash the car) and other goals maybe years ahead ( I will study so I can be a doctor).

Goals such as my examples are sane and possible. However some goals are impossible . The goal that I object to is that when the goal is attained there will be nothing else to be done. For instance the goal of a perfect political system such that nothing remains to be done is an impossible goal.

Re: Herder & Human Identity

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2025 9:33 pm
by Age
Belinda wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 5:17 pm
Age wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:50 pm
Belinda wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:15 pm
It's political nonsense that humans' transcendent aim is towards some goal or other.
Why is some goal nonsense, to you?
You are sharp -witted, Age
Not any goal, Age. It is very good for people to have goals. Indeed, I suspect that people who lack goals are unhappy.

Please let me rephrase.
People as individuals do aim at goals, some of the goals immediate,( I must wash the car) and other goals maybe years ahead ( I will study so I can be a doctor).

Goals such as my examples are sane and possible. However some goals are impossible . The goal that I object to is that when the goal is attained there will be nothing else to be done. For instance the goal of a perfect political system such that nothing remains to be done is an impossible goal.
So, is, 'Impossible goals are nonsense', more or less what you actually really meant?

Re: Herder & Human Identity

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2025 11:56 am
by Belinda
Age wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 9:33 pm
Belinda wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 5:17 pm
Age wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 12:50 pm

Why is some goal nonsense, to you?
You are sharp -witted, Age
Not any goal, Age. It is very good for people to have goals. Indeed, I suspect that people who lack goals are unhappy.

Please let me rephrase.
People as individuals do aim at goals, some of the goals immediate,( I must wash the car) and other goals maybe years ahead ( I will study so I can be a doctor).

Goals such as my examples are sane and possible. However some goals are impossible . The goal that I object to is that when the goal is attained there will be nothing else to be done. For instance the goal of a perfect political system such that nothing remains to be done is an impossible goal.
So, is, 'Impossible goals are nonsense', more or less what you actually really meant?
Yes. And I referred particularly to any goal that implies history is finite. Human culture can't be finite as human creativity is infinite.

Re: Herder & Human Identity

Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 5:29 pm
by Phil8659
Philosophy Now wrote: Thu Oct 09, 2025 10:00 am Brian King says that to understand the herd, you need a Herder.

https://philosophynow.org/issues/112/He ... n_Identity
You know, I was told that in order to understand women, one need one. Well, I have been married four times, but not one one them grew into a woman.
Show Mr. King, can keep on with his sheep, I still prefer women.