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A forgotten gem found among lost objects at an antique store

Francisco Miraval

Last week, for the first time in a long time, I visited an antique store. I was not looking for anything in particular. I just wanted to see what was there. However, in the middle of the chaos created for the superposition of elements from different times and places, I found a book written more than 100 years ago, but still with good lessons for us today.

The book was the second volume of A Beginner’s History of Philosophy, written in Massachusetts by Herbert E. Cushman and published in 1909. Whoever was the previous owner of this book certainly took the time to study it, as revealed by the copious notes on almost every page.

Writing for the advantageous point of view of not knowing what could later happen during the 20th century, Cushman –who it seems had his own perspective about spiritual issues- focused on his book on the intellectual struggle in Europe during the 19th century for and against accepting science and scientific thinking as the only acceptable and accepted way of thinking in modern times.

In the chapter dedicated to French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798-1857), known as the father of modern sociology, Cushman writes that, “Science alone must be the new foundation” for our society, ruling over ethics, psychology, and government.

Just a few pages later, Cushman presents the opposite point of view, that of Henri Bergson (1859-1941), who believe that, “The knowledge of reality comes through intuition” and not through science.

A century later, there is almost no debate about the place and role of science in our society, nor about science revealing or hiding reality. We just accept it. In fact, it is even difficult to think about living without science and technology in our lives. Those who try do it are either “primitive” or they are just acting for a television show.

Science controls now our every move. Every aspect of our lives is now controlled by science, from our clothes to our food, from health to death. People even say, “Because that is what science says” when they want to win an argument.

We are so sure about the almost magical power of science that we surrender to science. We do not even think about science having the right to control our society and our thoughts, nor do we analyze the consequences of giving science such a control.

If we watch a police series on television, we only see the computer lab where detectives wear immaculate white coats. If we switch to the military channel, we will see a constant parade of “new technologies.” In addition, even those “mystery” programs resort to complicated devices trying to catch ETs, ghosts, monsters, or Bigfoots. Everything, regardless of profession or issue involved, has to do with science and technology.

With all those thoughts in my mind, and not even looking at old uniforms, swords, and toys around me, I could not resist buying Cushman’s book. He could not anticipate his future, nor can we anticipate ours.

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