Right and Wrong at the same time

Thank you Yuval Noah Harari again for your inspiring thoughts....

"21 Lessons for the 21st Century" -

What I liked-
I like the perspective introduced in 'Homo Sapiens' that the world, and humanity in particular, spans possibly millions of years.  This gives focus to the vulnerability of our human stories.  We now think of 2000 year being a long time ago.  Harari say no, it's a small instance in time. Just yesterday.

I like his challenge to humanity that a belief in 'stories' whether they be national stories, political stories or, religious stories needs to be examined and understood within the context of fantasy.  He points out the paradox that for these stories to hold any power, they must be unquestioningly believed.  If they are questioned, they loose their power.  All these stories also can't be correct, especially when they contradict each other.  Hariri points out that stories are strengthen through repetition and rituals.  The paths people travel becomes compacted and permanent'.  It become a 'rite of way.' (My observation.)

I support this idea of being aware of how fact and fiction weave themselves together.

Harari notes that Polytheism is gentler than Monotheism, which tend to absolute.  "I am right and your God is not included here." rather than "I have room in my world for your God."  I think he is particularly thinking of 'God created in the image of Man' though.

I am interested by his critic of Education.  He notes the important of  Education is moving away from the 3 R's, to the 4 C.

Curiosity, Creativity, Communication, Questioning.

It is interesting to note that some subjects are likely to radically change with the development of technology.  Examples are languages, when computers offer us simultaneous translation of all language.  This has already been developed in Japan.  But I'm not satisfied with this idea.  The human touch is lost.  For me that is like saying the telephone will replace the need to see each other.  Another is history, where facts can be plucked from google as we walk down the road.  Again I think the place of memory is not likely to be threatened, and his image of the human/cyborg is most unappealing.  I am reassured that this is not likely to happen soon as I can't get my smartphone to reassure me it knows my diary accurately and fret that I am about to miss an important appointment.

Harari believes in unrelenting force of technology and biotech to change how we live completely, for better and for worse.  He foresees major moral issue of the future  as a digression in humanity between the haves, with technology and have-nots, as subhuman slaves. 

He notes that children born today are likely to see the 22nd Century.

My Critic...
I incline to Harari's argument.  He has a refreshing, human and farsighted approach.   There is just one problem.  When I left my daughter at her university accommodation on Saturday, I had a strong feeling of God's presence with her, and me.  I knew that she will be alright.  I was not looking for this.  In fact I was feeling very different at the time.  The experience as 'relational' and confirms my belief that I have a personal relationship with my Creator, just as I have a relationship with others in my life, such as my wife, Mother and daughters.  So I have to start my perspective on the world from the stand point.  A bit like the man that asks the way to Dublin, only to be told "if you are going to Dublin I wouldn't be starting form here."   I experience and unshakable belief that I have a relationship with a Creator, also known as a Supreme Being, or God.  Being told that this is in my mind would be like someone telling me that my relationship with family members is fake.  Given my position believing in God, I then see the world Harari presents, and can see him as right, and wrong, and the same time.

I am reminded of the argument made by a Hindu about why he believes in the fantastical stories of the Gita's.  He replies,  "It happened a long time ago.  Who is to say whether it is true or not.  Does it matter?  What matters is what it does for us today."

Harari writes scathingly about the hypocrisy of 'sacrifice'.  I quite agree with him.  There is hypocrisy, but there is the opposite too.  There is forgiveness, and sacrifice.  And these things are part of what make life worth living.