As a positive thinker, and a believer in human nature, I should think it possible and desirable that our lives could be devoted to improve the World in which we live...
Nevertheless, live's misfits and ageing usually teaches us that the modern Society in which we move doesn't always accept our endeavour to change the world through positive actions and philosophy.
I should like to know your opinion.
Dear all,
Yes, They made us think and rethink.
Regards
Dag Henk,
Misschien kunnen we eens positiefs doen in de relatie tussen Nederland en België. Also here there is migration, 2 students of Amsterdam come to live in Afkikker opposite the university of Ghent. We have a very good relationship, we learn from each other. There is really a difference in mentality but here in Ghent everything goes smoothly.
Vriendelijke groeten,
Rita
No way, Dr. Maria. And when we need it to come true we will just try harder to make it come true.
Yes, you made me think and rethink.
Yes, that question of modern migrations is there to make us think and rethink. Dear Henk.
But I do believe that it is a sign of hope asnd of trust in a better future...
Let us open our arms and receive that trust and become good deposits of others' trust and beliefs...
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Our life dreams the Utopia. Our death achieves the Ideal."
------ Victor Hugo
SOME OF US DESIRE TO DO OUR BEST WITH THE YEARS OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS WORLD. WE WANT TO DO THE BEST FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, NATION AND OUR GLOBAL VILLAGE. THE RESULT IS THAT WE PUT OUR THOUGHTS AND ENERGY TO THIS GOAL. This is the antidote for depression that is so prevalent now. Even if we don't achieve a better world, our goal is just to do our best. We know there are factors beyond our control. (From mobile.)
Dear @Maria, yes, our lives should be devoted to improve the World in which we live regardless the fact that endeavour to change is not well accepted. We have to do our best and made a synergy that might have a chance.
I am attaching a good article A Point of View: Our present-day utopia as fine reading for future discussions. "Visions of utopia tend to address current realities rather than future visions, says author Will Self...
Of course, the title Utopia has an ironic cast, for - depending on your perspective, and how you view the moral relation between means and ends - this is surely a dystopian as much as a utopian vision.
But then utopias and dystopias, indissolubly linked, both have a long and honourable cultural history..."
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28546855
It brings to mind the end of Constantinople; It was like a dream city. After more than 1000 years of progress in all aspects of culture, there came the end in blood, whole-scale destruction that put the clock back. I think the same with Palmyra today as well as the poor Syrians trying to move, yet they are tortured or killed instead of helping them.
Why? because not everyone on this planet thinks of improving the world.
Dear Roland,
If you read the answer before Rita you will understand her better. This is not a case of not reading what is upvoted but just an additional reply added by the others before her.
Positive thinkers will make great impact on social life even surrounded by negative thinkers.
being positive makes you bring many solutions to the social problems
or the problem ceases to exist
Today’s great technological advances and especially those in the digital space – ubiquitous connectivity, big data analytics, artificial intelligence – spark hope in an otherwise gloomy global environment; yet they also raise concerns about employment, inequality, education, privacy, democracy and more.
Hope and fear, utopia and dystopia, the lines are blurred. Here are five important disruptions and debates on the agenda: See through link.
https://agenda.weforum.org/2014/09/utopia-dystopia-five-key-tech-debates/
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Some people consider utopia to be derived from nature. For some people, utopia is the city."
---- Joel Sternfeld
Here is a lovely quotation:
"I've built a network that curates interestingness. In my universe, it encompasses thousands and thousands of filters and people, each person being a filter. So it's kinda cool. Like I've created my own utopia, removing the boring stuff and showing only the amazing stuff."
---- Jason Silva
Dear Maria,
If regarding the opportunities of a single individual and his/her life time, it is a sometimes beautiful utopia. However, considering human performance, ethics and good will as processes we should continue to ameliorate this unjust and tricky world.
Dear Roland,
Considering your 1. point, you are right. This is a subjective forum.
As to the Dutch phrase of Rita – using my German knowledge – it may be: “Maybe we can do some positive things once in the relationship between the Netherlands and Belgium.”
Rita is from Belgium, Henk from the Netherlands but they speak the same language: Dutch or Flemish.
Vriendelijke groeten = freundliche Grüsse = friendly greetings
for everybody,
András
Dear Vilemar,
Rita’s answer considered only the half of Henk’s comment and not the very subject of this thread.
All quiet on the western front. Does it?
YES, I agree with you all. But my contribution is that this was not a case of an upvote given without a previous reading. She just followed the leader. I did not upvote this contribution of.hers. But I upvote almost everyone's post to.thank them for their colaboration.
Dear Maria, perhaps even with the best of intentions, we can only do so much and no more. Surely a community of educated persons on RG is able to do more than a single person.
Even for a little thing that we want to change the unethical downvoting on RG into a positive action, where the downvoter must give a reason, some of us have repeatedly asked for this on Q and A (eg Ljubomir, Nizar Matar etc), but our requests FOR SUCH A LITTLE CHANGE WERE NOT CONSIDERED BY RG. We are reasonable we know that RG uses this as a check and balance measure, but we expected that we should be able to air our differences of opinions in a respectful manner, without underhand, anonymous actions. SO, IF WE CANNOT CHANGE A SMALL THING LIKE THIS, CAN WE CAUSE A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE WORLD?
(@Roland, I do not automatically upvote, but there's no need for any of us to downvote. Congrats for making audible disagreement.)
Capitalism is always evaluated against dreams. Utopia is a dream. It doesn't exist.
---Rush Limbaugh
If you actually succeed in creating a utopia, you've created a world without conflict, in which everything is perfect. And if there's no conflict, there are no stories worth telling - or reading!
--- Veronica Roth
Dear sirs, dear ALL!
Thank you for your valid, important (so many) contributes to this question.
Yes, when we mention Utopia, positivism and the urge for a better world, on a scientists forum of discussion, one should expect many many, different valid approaches such as yours here.
Yes, dear Vilemar and dear Subhash. dear Ljubomir, One should expect scientific minds to join the cause of working towards the benefit of the World. (and also count on the vivid exceptions of a few more...)
Thank you, dear Roland for disagreeing out loudly, as one should, for the sake of improvement... (independently of up or downvoting, this kind of attitude would be more helpful... for the sake of understanding, communicating and mutual improvement !)
Nevertheless, I do fully understand Rita and Henk's point of view... When we speak of Utopia and a better World, it would inevitably strike a European mind to think of the problem of migrations and of the core of Europe, and the persistent unresolved problem of BENELUX. I do agree that Europe's Utopia and Dreams will never improve unless we resolve old persistent problems, such as our Nationalities and even ethnic religious and political divergences... Hence, migrations and social resilience and acceptance. (as Inevitable points of disagreements.)
As for us scientists of the World, I do believe that our positive work and International interchange CAN and WILL help the improvement of our modern World, and even help resolve our many social and political problems. It depends on our positive citizen's choice to communicate freely and to help the World towards Utopia.
I do believe that each individual can matter towards this changing attitude..
If we (as scholars) think of our will to change the world as mere Utopia, then we have to raise the white flag & declare our surrender. It is our job & duty to be steadfast & unrelenting in the endeavor to improve the world at home & abroad.
At my old age, I have learnt that our wish for a change cannot be realized immediately but it will occur on the long run when there are constant ceaseless determined efforts. The reasons for having to wait is because there are enemies of change who benefit from a given negative current situation. The enemies of change could be powerful, smart, and rich so they will resist the seekers of change in fierce way. The fact that these enemies represent evil implies that defeat is waiting for them whatever their survival has extended. Many tyrants & empires were thought of as everlasting but after a while, they are gone & their downfall has never been a result of few days work.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/noah.htm
useful
U'SEFUL, a. Producing or having power to produce good; beneficial; profitable; helpful towards advancing any purpose; as vessels and instruments useful in a family; books useful for improvement; useful knowledge; useful arts.
youthful
YOUTHFUL, a. Young; as tow youthful knights.
2. Pertaining to the early parts of life; as youthful thoughts; youthful sports.
3. Fresh vigorous; as in youth.
(...none have to do with your so-called old age !...)
Thank you dear Nizar, for being such youthful good friend, that is useful to have around.
A good contribute just arrived through m essaging, from good friend Marianne:
Marianne Levon Shahsuvaryan to you4 minutes ago
Dear Maria,
Independent of circumstances all our activity is directed to make a positive small changes
Let's close our eyes and pose onward movement."Greed is the inventor of injustice as well as the current enforcer"J.Casablancas.Today we have discussed the problem of evolution with my students.The question was "Why did a human being,evolving from apes-chimpanzees (Homininae),but not Neanderthal,evolving from orangutans(Ponginae) win? We came to the conclusion,that Homininae were better adapted to natural and social conditions for survival.Humanity has made a lot of evil deeds-wars,terrorism,slavery,witch hunt,repressions,ecological catastrophes,caste system.In the 21 century humanity is not able to conclude that peaceful coexistence,the respect of human rights and human dignity,promotion of democratic governance,tolerance and mutual cooperation are obligatory components of the brighter future for all mankind.How does financial war differ from fratricidal war? When (what age) will be Renaissance?
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
Rumi (We call him Mowlavi In Iran, a great poet)
We should never lose hope and do the best we can, starting with little things and from ourselves
Be the change that you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
Leo Tolstoy
Dear Behrouz,
The saying of Mowlavi is well-known in Hungary but in a simpler form: If the mount does not approach me I approach the mount.
Maybe someone would say that an RG were an utopian goal. It happens that we are all different, from different backgrounds, ages, sex, with huge support and some none. It happens this is a reality. Now I can have acess to some great minds and have discovored great cultures about which I had a complete destorted idea about them. And I was motivated to do changes in my own being. Research Great that is its name.
Dear András, dear Behrouz, Here's my favorite quote from the Christian Bible:
«For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'move hence to yonder place', and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.» The Power of Faith. Matthew, 17:20-21.
Dear Vilemar !
How right you are... The same applies to me. I do have strong Institutional support (I hope!) but joining RG broadened my horizons, daily, and belonging to this great international community of scientists and researchers gives me the hope and certainty that we can «move mountains» together, if we keep supporting each other and each and everyone of us...(independently of political or religious beliefs ! )
Feels good to know that for certain.
I have hope that together we can help build a better and more intelligent World. I pray!
Every body has ideas to change the world but the problem is in the restrictions that prevent us
As a scientists we should have positive thought, and may be one day we can change the world. " Which will surely happen slowly". "Qui vas doucement arrive sûrement".
I doubt!
There is lot of difference between saying and actual doing.
Madam,
The discussion carried out above is very intellectual and enlightening. I think that any productive act must be carried out irrespective of the end or the results. We must not stop from doing something we believe in just because it seems to have no result in the foreseeable future. We must proceed with it in all good hopes.
We may not be able to change the world but what we will achieve is that we remain true to our belief and thought. If we believe that the world can become a better spot but we do not try to carry out our plans or to spread the idea we are being hypocritical. This is a disrespect to knowledge as it is truth, provable truth.
I have not much to contribute to what has been said by others, but would present to you a saying from our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in the hope that the people of such intellect will benefit.
He(PBUH) said: "If I had a seedling of date palm in my hand and the horns of the day of judgment were blown (i.e. the world was to come to an end) I would still plant it"
Dear @Andras and @Behrouz, as Serbia was 500 years under Turkish occupation, we do use the following quote: " If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed. "
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela
Utopia, by Thomas More
Thomas More was a British writer who invented the word "utopia" — from a Greek pun that means both "no place" and "good place" — for this book about his idea of the perfect society. Published in 1516, the book is about a man who has returned from the Isle of Utopia, where many of England's social ills don't exist. Though fictional, the book makes references to many real people and places, and thus has been read as sharp social commentary on the British justice system, politics, and wars. In fact, the book begins with a group of friends discussing how unfair sixteenth century England's inheritance and prison systems are.
On the Isle of Utopia, which scholar Stephen Duncombe calls "Europe turned upside-down," all property is owned communally. When one region has surplus food, they share it with impoverished areas. Other features of the society, according to Duncombe, include "an elected government and priesthood, freedom of speech and religion, public health and education, an economy planned for the good of all, compassionate justice and little crime, and perhaps most Utopian of all, no lawyers."
Many of More's ideas were so influential that several of them have become commonplace in contemporary industrialized societies. Others have simply remained democratic ideals in the West. You can read the full text of Utopia, with modern explanatory notes and helpful background materials, free online at Duncombe's Open Utopia project.
http://theopenutopia.org/full-text/introduction-open-utopia/
"The essential things in life are seen not with the eyes,but with the heart""To listen to the stars one should step out the limits of one's own narrow,egoistic,pragmatic world".(A.de Saint Exupery "The Little Prince") A Businessman who doesn't know the names of the stars,calculates them.He is only concerned,"How much does the star cost?"A highflier claims admiration.A lone king tries to rule.A geographer theorizes,unsupported by practice.A drunkard drinks."Yes,these grown-ups are very strange people"What if all people are able to confirm in the true values of their being.
http://linde-eit.livejournal.com/181368.html
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.
Albert Einstein
Yes, people watch only without doing constructive! Dear Behrouz Ahmadi-Nedushan.
But Einstein also misleaded the public because also he proposed to make the atomic bomb. And he was really working hard.
People don't get much freedom to invent new things if they have to work hard during day. So we must trust our government that they do well.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Mother Teresa
Yes, she was dear Ljubomir, Here is another lovely quote from her:
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
Mother Teresa
'The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.'
steve jobs
“You wouldn't abandon ship in a storm just because you couldn't control the winds.”
― Thomas More, Autjor of Utopia
"The call to make the world a better place is inherent in Christian belief and practice. But why have efforts to change the world by Christians so often failed or gone tragically awry? And how might Christians in the 21st century live in ways that have integrity with their traditions and are more truly transformative? In To Change the World, James Davison Hunter offers persuasive and provocative answers to these questions."
http://www.jamesdavisonhunter.com/to-change-the-world/
In linguistics when they started to use a model of a perfect speaker of a language, this science never grew so much. I always thought it was possible because physics could study a falling body setting aside the action of the wind, the gravity force. Why could not linguists could not work having an ideal speaker of a language? This gave birth to the communicative approach which started a new area to the language studies
Santosh Kalwar (Nepal Bhasa: स न ् त ो ष क ा ल व ा र ;) (born September 7,1982) , Chitwan, Nepal is a poet, writer and researcher, Once said:
The world would change to well if all people change to well. But in the world there is evil since the begining of the world, but the evil will not triumph.
Utopia is a direction; we all have to move in that direction for betterment!
Dear sirs.
You are simply wonderful.
Better than any mere utopian believer could imagine.
I've been suffering from a severe crash in my computer and couldn' come to RG for 3 days...I am communicating through mobile phone...
I' m thrilled to see how easily you correspond to my secret wish for utopian beliefs.
No, it doesn't take only Mother Teresa or Thomas Morians to follow Utopia.
It depends on all of us simple humans to build our dreams and to fulfill them.
It takes and it belongs to all of us simple humans to have the humbleness to keep on dreaming and to unite our efforts to build a better world. Your several contributes to this question are here to proove it.
It takes the intelligence and simple will of humble humans to build and to work together on a subject.
This is my strong belief.
Yes dear @Maria. People can do it together. Synergy of our will, our dreams and doings will bring the result!
if everyone does is little role...
Thing don't have to change the world to be important
Steve Jobs
quite right.
In this sense, simple things and simple thoughts can/could count more.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
--- Martin Luther King, Jr.
I have spent many years looking for answers in many areas of knowledge to understand where we are going in the evolution (physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological, etc.) in this particular case as a human, I have concluded to do much or do a little; take us to the same point of the origin of the Absolute (or M theory called The Everything); we can be disappointed and thinking that is nonsense and then one thinks (with our human mind) not worth much effort to arrive to the same point, so you can lose motivation and also the intention of being alive.
But the reason that gives me the will to live is to realize that the difference between doing something and doing nothing is the conscious lived experience. The Utopia is an idealism that appears only in a lapse of time under certain conditions depending on the parts of the system. Usually as human individuals we have many things in common, but many others are also an infinite world within us (in perception, thinking, tastes, etc.) as humans in our curious, ambitious and / or perfectionist nature always we look for a better state in our power management capabilities.
So we have to options (as I know) to decided to get to the Origin consciously or unconsciously is just that. If only we would avaliable to live an Utopia forever, perhaps we would break in quest to evolve, in that case there is not a reason to evolve. Everything changes, so we cant have always everything, and when there is absence of something, is when in those moments arise and our instinct of survival appears.
I chose to live a lot of experiences to arrive to the origin of "the Absolute" with concious and start again but in a diferent form of expretion of live.
I hope I have made me understand.
It takes little efforts from everyone to change the world!
When the perfect order prevails, the world is like a home shared by all. Leaders are capable and virtuous. Everyone loves and respects their own parents and children as well as the parents and children of others.
The old are cared for, adults have jobs, children are nourished and educated. There is a means of support for all those who are disabled or find themselves alone in the world.
Everyone has an appropriate role to play in the family and society. Devotion to public duty leaves no place for idleness. Scheming for ill gain is unknown. Sharing displaces selfishness and materialism.
-- Confucius
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
Confucius
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
Confucius
Yes, Dear Maria,
...... third by experience, which is the bitterest; best also!
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
“Basically, if you're not a utopianist, you're a schmuck.”
― Jonathan Feldman
And the changes of OUR world has to start inside ourselves. This is the only place we can touch. We can not chage the laws of universe or the universe inside other's minds.
That is absolutely correct, dear Vilemar,
We can not change the laws of universe but we can change ourselves and our way of thinking if we give it a try.
Dear sirs. Agree. So, if we start with a good change inside ourselves, we can soon reach others with our examples, and this will lead to a progressive better change of our World.
Nevertheless, we will also need to change a few of our habits to further improve changes in the surrounding World, as our previous behaviours have destroyed our good environment. And the change from within can then contribute to improve our environment.
We'll get there somehow.
The problem with the world today isn’t that we lack good ideas. We have great, sound, beautiful, enlightened ideas to last us a hundred generations. Enough new books! We don’t have to work stuff out. We have to make what we already know very well more effective out there.
The urgent question is how to ally the very many good ideas which currently slumber in the recesses of intellectual life with proper organisational tools that actually stand a chance of giving them real impact in the world.
http://thephilosophersmail.com/utopia/advice-for-those-who-want-to-change-the-world/
Dear Subhash...
Growing pains are part of the growing process....
Meet Srdja Popovic, the secret architect of global revolution!
"The Serbian activist who formed the Otpor! movement in 1998 to overthrow Slobodan Milosevic has taken his philosophy of protest – laced with humour and rock’n’roll – worldwide. He explains how to mobilise people and change the world..."
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/08/srdja-popovic-revolution-serbian-activist-protest
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/228578/blueprint-for-revolution-by-srdja-popovic/
The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.
Marcus Aurelius
Thank you, dear Ljubomir. I will look up to Popovic...
Thank you, dear Behrouz. Marcus Aurelius was indeed right.(It depends on us, little people, to make great changes happen...)
Dear Maria,
You have a duplicate post. I noticed that it happened in other threads as well. Probably, a problem with system or connection.I delete my duplicate posts right away if it ever happens!
Best regards,
thank you dear Roland. I used the words "little people" to define myself and a few others... (not Marcus Aurelius, emperor... My middle name is Alexandre. There's only one Alexander the Great ...)
Dear Behrouz. thank you ! I hadn't noticed. I come here more quickly, lately, as I am now more busy with the beginning of the academic year... Overwork for me til next January...
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Follow your dreams and use your natural-born talents and skills
to make this a better world for tomorrow."
----- Paul Watson
I alone can not change the world, but I Can cast a stone across waters to make many ripples.
Mother Teresa
If we can understand, feel, are emotional, humanitarian, etc, we can conclude that world can't be converted Utopia. We can realize this by witnessing refugees problem in Europe. Unbearable!
Dear Behrouz. That is wonderful...
(I couldn't help laughing at the idea of sweet Mother Teresa, holding her vests to ripple stones across the waters...)
Dear Subhash. If you check on the first pages of this thread, you'll notice that we started discussing the difficult problem of refugees, precisely, over the subject of utopia for a better World... I, personally refuse to stop believing in a better World. We'll slowly learn and redefine our routes and paths towards more positive approaches to better societies...
We learn better and faster from our failures than from our successes.
Yes, Dear Maria,
Today, world has failed on refugees issue! Hope countries will learn from this and solve the problem at faster!
To the book by A.Einstein "How to change the world to the better""Social equality and economic well-being is the aim of the society,controlled by government.Nationalim,intolerance,suppression of a human being by economic means,destruction of humanistic spirit mean that modern life is in danger.Improvement of a human being must serve the purpose of a beautiful aim to become a community of free and harmonious people.It's possible to achieve it through the inner fight against antisocial destructive instincts.Intellectual efforts,aimed at the development of an individual and his creative abilities give meaning and matter to life.To provide a good way of living for all people of the planet is the general debt of humanity and all states.We can't speak about humanity as a civilized society,while it's absent.In the age of moral degradation all calls to justice have no influence on people.Unlimited competition leads to mutilating of social consciousness.A hen is a political system, an egg is a rational construction of education.It's important to solve the problem of labour organization and distributive justice .Slavery means downfall of every healthy beginning.We can solve the problem of balance between supply and demand of labour,production and consumption,if they can be controlled by law.We can solve it if we are spiritually, intellectually,politically,inside and outside free.Economic anarchy of capitalist society is a source of evil.The Universe is infinite (I have some doubts), but human stupidity is infinite.How can we save humanity and values? World crisis causes displease, displease causes hatred,hatred causes new acts of violence,revolutions,wars.Suffering and evil cause new suffering and new evil.Efforts of statesmen will be successful if they are supported by the determinate will of folks.The real democracy became possible thanks to scientists,providing for daily labour and bringing arts and sciences out into the open.The ideas,illuminating my life and accompaning my way with courage and fortitude were good,beauty and truth." My conception "Classics:Navitas Vitae" is devoted to shaping these values in students.http://www.e-reading.club/bookreader.php/1021252/Eynshteyn_-_Kak_izmenit_mir_k_luchshemu.html
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279205864_ClassicsNavitas_Vitae
Conference Paper Classics:Navitas Vitae
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
― Albert Einstein
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
--- Marcus Aurelius
Today'sl world is a reality which we already know of. An utopian view may be the only one which can allow us to visualize new changes. Some will come true, others not as much.
Vilemar Magalhães
Yes, dear Vilemar. But I have to believe that my dreams may come true, if not in my lifetime, at least someday in the future. I have several dreams, and I have to believe in my dreams, because I need to move forward.
I believe in my dreams.
To be utopian is to scratch the map of the humanity future paths.
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Teaching