Chapter
7
CONCLUSION
I titled this paper A Tower of Babel. It is not
about The Tower of Babel, but rather something similar, a world-wide
computer information system that can help humanity find a "common language"
within the deeper modes of communication. In finding a common
language, we can better understand each other and "nothing [we] propose
to do will be impossible for [us]" (Genesis, 11:1-9) --even if it is
healing a mind-body split that has plagued humanity.
Campbell (1988) says of mythology, "When the story is in your mind,
then you see its relevance to something happening in your own life.
It gives you perspective on what's happening to you" (p. 4). I
mentioned in the introduction that the story introducing this paper
about the descendants of Noah had a classical interpretation.
This classical interpretation was probably created by the Catholic Church
and passed down through the hierarchy. This classical interpretation
was different than the meaning the story held for me based on the events
happening in my life (researching this paper). When I heard the
classical interpretation I felt shame that I had interpreted it wrong.
No, I did not get it wrong, I got it right for me. Any other number
of interpretations are equally right for the individuals interpreting
it. Giving one set interpretation for a story can take individuals
away from their own personal interpretations based on what is happening
in their lives. It can take individuals away from themselves.
Taking individuals away from themselves promotes a mind-body split.
In a hypertext version of this paper, I would not draw any conclusions,
but rather just present information. This would allow the reader
to explore and draw their own conclusions based on their own process
of discovery. Not drawing a conclusion does not suite this linear
form of writing. In absence of an open text format, the following
is a summary according to the one path I chose out of the many that
I could have chose to present this information.
I first introduced the mind-body split that can ultimately lead to disease.
The mind-body split was introduced as a focusing on only a few of the
channels of communication, namely the mind channels that receive language.
This leaves the other channels, namely the body channels, to become
subconscious, secondary processes. I introduced how the mind-body
split can aid the disease process by not allowing the soma to return
to homeostasis, thus stressing the immune system. Excess stress
was shown to also create excess free-radicals. Excess free radicals
are thought to be the cause of 80 to 90% of all degenerative diseases.
I introduced the evolution of language and showed how language assists
in tool making and social organization. These are essential to
K type breeding strategies and the development of greater intelligence
in humans. I showed how language can create self-awareness and
insecurity, setting the stage for a mind-body split. Then, I introduced
to the word meme as a small unit of cultural transmission.
Language and writing both being memes, are also memes-that-help-to-transmit-memes.
I then showed the path of the evolution of memes-that-help-transmit-
memes and explored how they assist in the development of the mind-body
split. Writing, I showed, as co-evolving with hierarchical societies
and potentially creating the mind-body split. Rules about how
to live and behave are passed down from authority figures who have access
to the written word. This can take individuals away from their
internal experiences based on deeper channels of communication.
I showed how the printing press allowed for greater distribution of
printed material and began to dissolve hierarchies, but increased the
amount of information received solely through the visual channel.
This change led to the objectification of nature and the industrial
revolution. The industrial revolution increased our ability to
create memes-that-help- transmit-memes and improved our ability to communicate
interpersonally. Eventually, the industrial revolution brought
us the computer and began the information age.
Peter Russell, in his film
The Global Brain (1989), showed how up until 1900, the major
focus of employment was agriculture. Around 1900, industry became
the dominant use of human energy. This continued until 1975 when
information processing became the major focus of human time (Russell,
1989). This is known as the "age of information."
Russell (1989) goes on to point out that there is a growing number of
people involved in the exploration of the human mind. He predicts
that by the year 2000, this will become the dominate use of human time
and we will see a major shift in human values (1989). Sorokin's
cycles in human culture (as cited in Oliner, 1976) support this view
as well and show that we are on the verge of a shift to a more ideational
(intuitive and spiritual) culture.
I have pointed out how computer technology, combined with phone technology,
hypertext and multimedia, can support a world wide information system.
This information system can aid the healing of the mind-body split by
eliminating hierarchies, incorporating more of the information channels
into the process of receiving information, and increasing the frequency
of learning III. In doing so, humanity will begin to find connection
based on the information from deeper modes of communication, thus increasing
intimacy and empathy, and bringing around a new way of being in the
world and relating to others. Humanity could begin to operate
as a whole rather than individual pieces wrapped up in selfish ways.
I'm not proposing this out of arrogance as the classical interpretation
of "The Tower of Babel" story might suggest, but out of my love for
humanity, and my desire to see an end to human suffering and to help
humanity live in peace within a "heaven on (or beyond) earth."
REFERENCES
- Campbell, J.
with Moyers, B. (1988). The power of myth.
New York, NY: Doubleday.
- Oliner, S.
(1976, Fall). Sorokin's Contribution to American Sociology.
Nationalities Papers. 4 No. 2. 125-151.
- Russell,
P. (Producer), Hall, C. (Director). (1989).
The global brain. [video]. (Available from I.C.,
Tankenham, England)
- (1982).
The holy bible: Revised standard version. Nashville,
TN: Holman.
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