5. THE METAPHYSICAL CLUB ~ July 22nd - July 28th ~~ Part Two - Chapter Five ~ (97- 116) ~ Agassiz ~No-Spoilers, please

[Clayton]

Tomerobber wrote: "Hmmmmm . . . . are we still discussing this book? There is no thread started for the discussion that was supposed to happen last week . . . if not I'll just finish reading the book and not wait for..."

I was wondering the same thing Tomerobber. I guess we could continue on our on with the discussion. I suspect the chapter to be discussed might be controversial. The old argument of faith vs science is still very much a hot issue even today.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Of course we are. I was waiting for folks to get caught up.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Clayton and Tomerobber - everything is up and open.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Tomerobber wrote: "Hmmmmm . . . . are we still discussing this book? There is no thread started for the discussion that was supposed to happen last week . . . if not I'll just finish reading the book and not wait for..."

Folks everything is up - warning - very very dense chapters so keep moving ahead - but there is a lot to talk about.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Post away folks and if you are behind = then just find the thread that corresponds to where you are in your reading and post there and then go on to the next thread - never too late to post

[Sherry]

Kathy wrote: "Tomerobber wrote: "Hmm . . . reading this part just reminds me of how misinformation and misinterpretation of facts can lead to scientific CERTAINTY. The plot thickens . . . this same belief struct..."

I think they bought into it because they wanted to justify slavery. Cognitive dissonance. And Agassiz was apparently very charismatic. I found him very distasteful even when he wasn't going on about his distorted ideas regarding race. He seemed to be a bit of the con man to me.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Welcome Sherry to the discussion - I am delighted to have you with us.

Your observation is shared by many now but then as you aptly pointed out he was sought after and was extremely charismatic and charming - we all find him distasteful for his views but then again look at how many learned men believed him. Indeed, a good point about trying to justify the unjustifiable.

[Katy]

I am wondering if Agassiz was a celebrity of his times. Rather than a movie or rock star, he was a charismatic lecturer. I am thinking these lectures were a bit of being seen by others when one attended also.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

That is another excellent point Kathy - during this period of time for entertainment they used to get together in people's living rooms and discuss ideas or hold meetings like they did in Lowell to hear folks speak - maybe he was in some ways their traveling entertainment - a Rush Limbaugh of science (smile).

[Tomerobber]

Oh Bentley . . . you are way too funny . . . Hahahaha

[Katy]

Yeah, I guess we do have all sorts of "celebrities" now also.

[Sherry]

Bentley wrote: "Welcome Sherry to the discussion - I am delighted to have you with us.

Your observation is shared by many now but then as you aptly pointed out he was sought after and was extremely charismatic ..."

Thanks Bentley! I've kept up with the reading but haven't been able to post because work at school got the better of me. The book is great.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

I love your posts Sherry so please post - I get lonely on the threads (smile).

[Patricrk]

I use to keep a saying on the wall in my office that went something like this. We must be aware of the lenses through which we look at life, as well as what we look at. The racial prejudice lens kept Agazzi from seeing the poor science in the skulls.

I thought it was ironic that the South probably really preferred the multi-creation theory but since it conflicted the bible they couldn't accept it. There are lines in the bible (Genesis ch.9 v.20-27) about the sons of Ham being marked as servants which was interpreted as meaning blacks (Kush).

Mexico was a mixed ethnic society where American Indian, European and African genes were well mixed. The invasion and capture of Mexico City by a small American army "proved" how inferior the people from mixing of the bloods really were. This is what I think is the basis of Agazzi's remark. I don't know how he would have rationalized their defeat of the French.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Thank you Patricrk for tackling Agazzi's statement - I think you were the first one who posted about it.

Oh, the filters that affect all of us. Excellent saying. So you think that Agazzi was using science to prove his racial attitudes . Do you think he was aware that the was doing this consciously?

[Patricrk]

Bentley wrote: "Thank you Patricrk for tackling Agazzi's statement - I think you were the first one who posted about it.

Oh, the filters that affect all of us. Excellent saying. So you think that Agazzi was us..."
I don't think he was aware of his bias. I am sort of surprised he had the bias since he didn't even see a black until in Philadelphia.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

I know - I wonder if his internal racial profiling had anything to do with his background or what he was taught in the universities that he studied at. At that time many of these scientists and folks at Harvard had studied abroad and in Germany, etc.

He was universally well liked it appears aside from his beliefs.