In the world today, in highly developed nations as well as less developed, we see people retreating to simplicity of fundamentalism. Could this be a reaction to the complexity of the 21st century world with its accelerated science and technology? Part of the situation might be because of the increasing wealth-gap. However, that too may be seen as a result of technological advancement. Because, with every new advance, there is the opportunity for exploitation (we've seen it in the industrial revolution and more recently in robotization).
Simplicity is a natural and organic Law. Humans create complexity because of subjectivity, diversity and interpretation (and conditioned convention not innovation) that nature does not engage in. Simplicity is about inclusion not elitism as a sociopolitical strategy. Albert's light beam path to E=Mc(squared) is far more complex than the formula itself. Is this simplicity or complexity?
Fundamentalism is seen more in less developed countries or communities. I would say development is science and technology is the way to solve fundamentalism problem.
If we compare today's world with the world at the time of Chengezkhan when there was least progress in science and technology then we can observe difference in developed societies and undeveloped societies. We are proceeding towards positive direction and fundamentalism will go down with time.
Yes. It is a reflection of the struggle between feudalism and capitalism. And you know who always wins that one, eventually.
The root cause of fundamentalism is that in many under developed countries many people who have not found a proper outlet to survive happily go back to their cultural roots and try to glorify it in a manner which will attract the masses. They form into various groups and express themselves loudly sometimes annoying others. The developed countries on the other hand having mostly only one fundamental group have no rivals, hence people need not show themselves in the name of religion as most of these developed countries are also lucky that the religion they practice allows more freedom of thought and practice.
In some countries with a large population having more or less equally distributed religious sects and where secularism has the real meaning do face problems from various political angles from inside and outside, When a group of people feel threatened then also the fundamentalist spirit is awakened.
Advances in technology on the communication front, the destructive weapons developed and used over countries, wrong policies, greed for more power on resources, etc all are responsible for the spirit of fundamentalism to rise.
Survival of people by going to wealthier countries as give and take policy makes many of the innocent peace loving people who are added are also conveniently used and misused through globalization. Population increase is also an uncontrollable factor if naturally allowed is also changing the global scenario.
Technology advances is like entropy created, irreversible, both in the end result and and for creating natural environmental hazards. Technology is a double edge sword which can protect and also kill. The poor protect themselves while the well to do wield their swords.
Herb Glenn Bennett - I would not draw a line between humanity and nature. We humans are part of nature. I would say instead that the process of evolution and life is one of increasing complexity. And, that human civilization has increased the pace of that increased complexity. Your point that Einstein's theories provide an excellent example of the question here. You say that the equation is simpler than the reality of nature. I quite agree! That same general idea, that we humans create theories that simplify reality, is part of the problem. Fundamentalists seem to have relatively simple theories about how the world works. And, unfortunately, part of that view leads some to fight and destroy to complexity of human civilization to make the reality simpler.
Fundamentalism is an expression of survival, leading to anger and hatred when challenged..
Anger is one of the most used expression by human nature which is needed but to be moderated by the society and properly lead by the individual and for the nation by its leader. Destruction only follows with time lapsed as pent up emotions lead to undesirable acts. Love is the only counter measure against fundamentalism both of the individual and the community.
Yes, Steven, the problem exists. Technology changes, but human being not.
To avoid this problem we must have proper education alongside with technology development. This means, that the social system must be changed toward socialism.
Eugene F Kislyakov, I very much agree that education is a big part of the "cure" for the problem. I am not so certain about socialism. It is possible that we need to invent a new system. Part of the problem is that our ability to create governmental structures is rather weak - because our understanding of those structures is not strong. I do not claim to know what the "best" form of government is. However, i may have a tool to help us find it. The attached paper (under submission) is a step towards more effectively integrating multiple perspectives so that we can learn to create a better system. It might be an interesting collaboration to add socialism to the diagram for a new publication?
Now we have a new feature, not foreseen by Marx, Steven. Man - machine conflict. Mentioned by You fundamentalism is the part of this problem, reaction of ordinary traditional man to nowadays machinary.
Putin and Trump solve nothing. They are instruments of states-machines. To my mind uncontrolled development of machines becomes dangerous and must be stopped. It may be done by education, turning to the real human's problems, also to religion. No religion support any fundamentalism and terrorism. They are products of ignorance, bad thinking and other material factors.
Eugene F Kislyakov - excellent insight. But I don't think the answer is to go backwards. Instead, I suspect we need to understand how all the parts (people, machines, thinking, state, etc) are causally interconnected. Then, we can more consciously create a new system that is more sustainable and supporting of humanity.
Lenin wrote ("State and revolution") that any state is evil, instrument of violence. The ideal of communists was society without state. But instead we see states become stronger and stronger, pure machines, without personification. Modern capitalists need no people at all. Machines are working.
Yes - the state will always oppress the individual to improve the ease of the state. And, the individual will always oppress the seat of the chair for his own comfort. But there may be a way out - but we will need some new thinking.
Article A Limit to Our Thinking and Some Unanticipated Moral Consequ...
We have heard about new thinking from Gorbachev. Where is he now?
Human being (also thinking) can not be changed, Steve.
The roots of fundamentalism as I think of now is an expression of a vexed spirit humiliated by factors other than the fundamentalism cause on which these people operate.Nothing can be done as most of us are not able to influence members in their own families.
Only a countries leader who is really capable and honest can strive for this cause and bring in changes.Whatever we talk will be only matters of the past,history and various attributes of fundamentalism.The world with its diversity has exploded ,things made more transparent due to globalization hurting us further.Though it makes one more aware it only brings turmoil. Problems solved in a localized circle is better than a larger participation of people.Only those areas where public awareness helps in improving a cause requires united effort.
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