Have we lost the ability to disagree and maintain our relationships?  I remember my parents having discussions about politics especially in the Carter/Regan election years.  They were able to disagree with family and friends, make a joke and move on.  What is happening in our culture, especially here in the U.S?  Has fear of the other gripped us so tightly that we can no longer listen to what our neighbors have to say without feeling threatened?

In his book The Closing of the Western Mind, Charles Freeman notes that debate is what birthed scientific thinking in Greece.  A way of thinking based on observation and notion, and an opposing notion, ie hypothesis and null hypothesis.  Then the well organized argument (evidence) for or against the proposed notion.  This more logical, linear (perhaps) way of thinking was born of political debate sometime in the 5th c BC.  At this or a similar point in  the Western world it became desirable to be able to make an observation, social, political or natural, and reasonably argue to support that observation. Regardless of the embrace of logic and reason as ways to prove an argument or assumption, most of the thinkers in Greece were in agreement that dogma held no place in such discussions.

As example, around 311 there were two Athenian philosophical traditions.  These were emerging in addition to the Plato schools. Epicureanism and Stoicism emerged out of Athens as competing philosophies.  Stoics who believed it is our ability to think logically and reason that separated us humans from the natural world. This school of thought became most popular.  (Epicureanism, by contrast, was a relatively inclusive school of thought for the time as it included women as equal thinkers and teachers.)  What is important to know about this time is that none of these systems were closed.  In other words, they were open to debate.  How can a philosophy or world view stand if it cannot be questioned and discussed, except as a means of control.

According to Freeman, the Greeks under Roman rule maintained their intellectual debates.  When gathered the intellectuals of Greek society debated freely on mathematics, astronomy,  In fact, tolerance of different cults, beliefs, gods was the norm through the second century AD.  With this tolerance, the creativity and progress that comes from inspiration and learning thrived.  Philosophy was fueled by a desire to grow and improve oneself and one’s life and well as that of others.  It was not interested in being in possession of THE truth and imposing that belief on others if it did not appeal to them.

I’ll be writing more on this topic, including some influential ideas from Charles Freeman’s book.  I just want to get something posted this week and create a sustainable blogging habit:)