Using the metaphorical (or maybe literal) model of ideas as living things - there should be conditions we can create to nurture an ecosystem of beneficial ideas. Like making a garden or farm.
Not just thinking about transmission method (memes, books, songs, art, gatherings) but also having a defined, intentional and continued program of evaluating ideas and spreading ideas.
The problem is shitty soil. The solution better funded and better quality schooling.
You’re right, better schooling is important. What do you think are the obstacles to getting it? Why isn’t it happening already?
Does seem like there’s a loop of misinformation means less effective democracy, and less effective democracy allows for more misinformation. Seems like better democratic systems are called for, like ranked choice voting, but also better news or education outside formal public school.
I also think overpowered interests (ie. rich people) can veto education on subjects that most people would benefit from. So maybe one thing is better limiting the accumulation of outsized wealth or power?
Science and education have both become (have always been?) politicized. Certain groups are incentivized to hamstring education at every opportunity in order to keep the churches full and the voters red.
The solution… we need to get those fuckers out of power. Voting works when voting works, but that’s obstructed and gerrymandered to oblivion, so… idk, break out the ol’ guillotine and start providing some free cervical spinal decompressions to our oligarchs?
Be careful to not confuse the metaphor with what it’s supposed to represent. With that in mind:
- What do you consider an “idea”? Are you talking about things that practical, epistemic (true/false) or moral (good/bad) in nature?
- What do you consider a “helpful” or “beneficial” idea? And helpful/beneficial for whom?
- What’s the target audience those ideas? Everyone, or 1+ specific groups?
- Who’s “we” in your “we can”? In other words, who’s willing to help you out?
From circling those questions you’ll probably find unclear spots on your goal. And once you find those spots, and get rid of them, you’ll be able to pragmatically list potential solutions, their pros and cons.
Note that trying to do too much will often yield practically no results. Even when dealing with abstract things, there’s a limit on the amount of work that you can do, and you can’t spread it too thin. Virality can help you out a bit with this though, as it allows you to relay work in a headless way.
The “we” thing is a good point, and even as I was writing this was thinking about the post the other day where someone was like “how can we get more redditors to lemmy” and a bunch of people were like, “we don’t want that.”
I’m thinking about anyone interested in the subject. There’s never going to be universal interest in some philosophical project, and there doesn’t need to be in order to have a positive impact. So I’m thinking of people who do have an interest in the sort of meta issue, how things “ought” to be.
I’m interested in practical, testable ideas, and at the same time I think there needs to be a philosophical underpinning to any type of project nurturing “beneficial” ideas, because otherwise how do you evaluate what’s beneficial?
My philosophy is that existence is desirable, continued existence is desirable, and ever more elevated ways of existing. So going from “anything existing,” to life existing, to animals, to conscious beings. The basic nuts and bolts are important then - is there enough food to live, is something going to kill me, and we’ve for the most part got these down (although not at a systemic level to eliminate homelessness, universal healthcare, etc). But I don’t think we have any kind of grasp on long term sustainability - we’re in serious environmental peril, the existence of any nuclear weapon is a threat, biological weapons, decline of democracy, even something like an asteroid impact.
So when talking about an ecosystem of ideas, for me at least its about ideas that will avoid or mitigate larger threats which are difficult for any individual to address.
This is good. Are you aware of any places explicitly doing solutions journalism? (I’m sure there are, more just interested to find places I’m not aware of)
This reminded me of “The Problem with Jon Stewart” which while not perfect seems like a move in the right direction. It just got canceled, and the article I had seen suggested it was because Apple had concerns over some of the subjects (ie, didn’t want to piss off china and have its operations in china highlighted, and didn’t want focus on AI which it may be using).
So then what are the conditions which would allow for more solutions journalism? Off-hand I’d say employee owned entities (or less optimally operations with wealthy patrons willing to give them leeway) would mean they’re less likely to be shut down. I suppose seeing examples of it being successful would inspire more individuals or groups to move in that direction.
Not sure this is what you’re asking but it’s a thought I have had.
Let take a creative job like writing for a tv show. They will hire writers that have various background and they will pull from them with interesting scenarios and ideas.
I always though that there is a nearby endless amount of random people just going about their life that might have amazing ideas for shit. They will never be a tv show writer because their an accountant or a teacher or whatever. However, they might have a ton or even one really great idea.
Me and my wife like to get high and pitch ideas back and forth. When we have a good one we put into a google doc. They’ll never see the light of day but I’m sure I’d the right person had access to them they could make them into something great.
I guess my point is there is a huge untapped creative bucket of “regular people”.
- Teach people how to think (logical falacies etc.)
- Teach people about rethoric and sophism
- Philosophy
- Science
- Debate culture that goes beyond gotcha!
I have nothing useful to contribute. Just, lately, been thinking a lot about platonic ideals. Plato decided that… so, chairs. There are office chairs, camping, some metal, some wood, variety. Plato said that any chair you see, it is an imitation, an attempt. But the CHAIR ideal existed separately, in its own realm. At one point he theorized it was at the top of our existence, our reality.
An abstract homunculus, if you will. Mankind’s capacity for abstract thought is astonishing, we use it to put rocket ships in space, math, science. Etc. But humans can get so caught up in their abstract thinking, they can lose touch with actual reality. People become labels, wars are fought over imaginary gods, anything can be justified.
Abstract thought can be tricky.
- Discuss and debate your ideas, and seek membership in community where this is encouraged
- Work on complex projects to continuously learn about how ideas manifest in reality
- Take care of your brain
- Write your ideas down. Write them with different words and approach them from different angles. Explore all the details
- Have respect for grammar and vocabulary. Utilize words’ specific individual meanings, and expand your vocabulary so that you aren’t misleading listeners and readers by using words that sorta kinda fit what you’re trying to say
- Practice meditation to stop the intellect from gaining too much prominence in your mind (this is also a function of the work thing from above)
- Read lots and lots of books, including fiction. Not only do you get ideas, but you also get exposure to complex sentence structure and ways of conveying things
- Ditto poetry. Ditto news. Ditto rap. Listen till your brain’s exhausted, then take a little nap
- Eat well and sleep plenty
- Develop your body’s skill. Shoot arrows, play pool, make love, surf, play the violin, juggle, rock climb, etc. Do things that require skill, not just knowledge or creativity.
