Would you consider Boston the "most intellectual" city on the East Coast?!

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Infinite_heights77

Hahahahahahahaha....

Tedx talks is an interesting platform! At times, I think they do get somethings correct; while other times they can be quite trite and corny. I have some major problems with some of their positions on who and what should be discussed. I smell the stench of scientific and social elitism with Tedx at times.

Don't you think the groups of renaissance men gathered in dark room drinking and smoking, debating the essence of what it is to be alive and the goodness and failures of man in 1720 Cambridge wasn't seen by the population at large as those that stunk of social elitism?

I'm guessing they were.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

You're arguing that it's possible to be both religious and moral, but consider it so unlikely that the amount donated by people to religions shouldn't be counted as charitable (presumably because it's mostly self-serving). I disagree.

And I think that the amount donated is a proxy for measuring morality. I would agree it's not a great proxy, but it is a tough thing to measure. This is made especially difficult because what's moral will be different considering who you ask.

What hasn't been pointed out is that there are other measures of morality where "intellectual" areas do much better. Sure, we don't win on total giving, but infant mortality is lower, childhood poverty is lower, our children are healthier, high school graduation rates are higher, and fewer people go hungry. I'm sure I could list a few dozen other ways in which "intellectual" areas are winning, but I think you get the point.

I know what you're saying, and I assume you would factor in the ability to give in this measure, but even so, I am not 100% sure about this.

Are countries that have lower charitable giving, but give more through the state (say Denmark), so they have less poverty, homelessness, a better healthcare system, etc showing they have less morality? I think quite the opposite. In the grand scheme, for a Western nation, I find the USA rather immoral due mostly to its focus on the individual and not the collective good.

[Whatsnext75]

BostonX isnt even operating anymore

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Intellectuals and Society Thomas Sowell