More Background: How Science and History Weigh in on the Possibility of the NV Effect II

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Contents

00:00—05:00
05:01—09:20
09:21—14:12
14:13—16:30
16:31—18:00
18:01—20:25
20:26—21:45
21:46—23:28
23:29—28:24
28:25—31:06
31:07—33:40
33:41—36:50
36:51—43:00
43:01—47:26
47:27—53:59
54:00—58:09
58:10—1:01:37
1:01:38—1:03:20
1:03:21—1:05:52
1:05:53—1:11:10
1:11:11—1:15:12
1:15:13—1:19:32
1:19:33—end		 Course logistics and announcements.
Review from last time: scarcity and competition lead to violence, determinism leads to nonresponsibility
Milgram studies, problems of authority and nonresponsibility leading to violence
Separateness, findings of science versus the cultural story of science and resulting worldview.
Perpetration Induced Traumatic Stress (PITS) 
Diversity, interdependence, and Gandhi’s “heart unity,” unnaturalness of master-servant relationship
Quote from Mohammed: “How do you help an oppressor? By preventing him from oppressing you.” 
Heart unity is alternative to the unity of pretending to agree on something (–> unanimous violence) 
Respect, honor, dignity and nonviolence; honor as higher value than life itself. 
Gandhi story: “Someone slapped me and I felt humiliated, what should I have done?” 
Gandhi: if your only choice is between violence and cowardice, choose violence.
Biology and behavior: the amygdala, fear, and aggression 
More on respect, disrespect, human dignity and connection.  
Prevailing scientific paradigm (material physics, competition biology) and social outcomes (violence)
Emerging paradigm (consciousness physics, cooperation biology) and nonviolence
Rosenstrasse Prison Demonstration 
Human needs theory—bonding, autonomy, and meaning
Importance of autonomy of choice, authenticity in nonviolence (Gandhi)  
Nonmaterial needs focus us on abundance rather than scarcity—human interactions are ‘positive sum.’
Mirror neurons.
Cooperation—Prisoner’s Dilemma (Game Theory) 
Study: racial bias, and seeing people as individuals rather than stereotypes (Wheeler and Fiske) 
Conclusion, what neuroscience and behavioral science tell us about nonviolence.

Readings

Section IIb of the course reader.

  • Wendell Berry, “Life is a Miracle: an Essay Against Modern Superstition” pg 51-55
  • Planck, Max and Stapp, Henry, ” Quotations from New Physics” pg 1
  • Henry P. Stapp, “Quantum Physics and Human Values” 1989. p-1-8
  • Nick Herbert, “How to be two places at one time,” from New Scientist. 1986.
  • Augros, Robert and Stanciu, Geoge. The New Biology [excerpts]
  • Frans de Waal, Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong [excerpts]
  • Frans de Waal, Peace Making among Primates [excerpts]
  • Thomas, Elizabeth Marshall “Management of Violence Among the Ju/wasi . . .”
  • Stuart Schlegel, Wisdom From a Rainforest. “Justice Without Domination”
  • Frasier, Ian.  “On the Rez: the story of SuAnne Big Crow”

Resources

Film, The Ground Truth
Franz Da Waal: Site for his book, The Age of Empathy
Mary E. Clark on Aggression and Human Needs