Rescuing the Future — Benedict Freedman

We have heard from politicians, from lawyers, experts in finance, indeed from experts in just about everything. We have not had an analysis from someone trained simply to think. In this powerful insight into today's problems, we have just that. Prof. Benedict Freedman received his Ph. D. in mathematical logic at UCLA. He begins by asking us to listen to Einstein: In the twentieth century everything has changed except our way of thinking. That is key. Much of our thinking, Prof. Freedman claims, was formulated when our brains were in the prehistoric stage of development. Many values engendered then have not been examined since. We use 21st century technology to support 10th century values or possibly 10th century BC values. Traditional values have been and will continue to be inspirational. It is when they are carried to extremes, made absolute and inflexible, that they become tyrannical. Let us remember, however, that we inhabitants of planet Earth made them, and we can moderate, reconcile, and when necessary replace them. How do we do this? By creating new values. We can examine the dichotomies Good vs Evil, Right vs Wrong, Truth vs Lie-and recognize that the choice is not between good and evil but between rival goods, rival rights, rival truths. Understanding this puts our feet on the next rung of the evolutionary ladder, as we human beings strive to become more fully human. Copernicus may have removed us from the geographical center of the universe. We remain as creative centers, and the values we make now will determine if we are to rescue the future.