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David Schmitt, Ph.D.'s avatar

I suspected that you might have had a sensitivity regarding animal experimentation. I completely understand that sentiment and concur regarding the importance of caring for animals. I think that it is important to know as much as we can about what makes us human, including our biology and -- thus -- our vulnerabilities. We possess both machine-like features as well as being free, choosing beings. (In even very simple terms outside of some brain processes, the arm is a mechanical lever---but we could agree that that fact does not make us deterministic robots in our thoughts and actions.) This I have worked long and hard at understanding and explaining. It is the task of the free, human being to master the machine like aspects much as one would master the use of a mechanical tool. Without deeply understanding both aspects, one cannot succeed in becoming efficacious as a defender of your freedom of mind and in becoming evermore virtuous. In fact, one will be exposed to the possibility, likelihood, and -- frankly -- certainty of being tyrannized by an enemy, a human and spiritual predator, who will better understand one's vulnerabilities than oneself.

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Common Knowledge Edinburgh's avatar

Very well put.

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David Schmitt, Ph.D.'s avatar

I believe you mean "Pavlov," not Pavel?

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Common Knowledge Edinburgh's avatar

:) yes, thank you. That mistake is inexplicable, except perhaps having such a strong aversion to him...

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David Schmitt, Ph.D.'s avatar

I have made similar misspellings even when fully aware of the correct spelling. Sometimes the error comes to me "out of the blue," or even while I am sleeping that night, that I misspelled a particular word.

As far as Pavlov, I do not have a grudge against him. His work did inform us about some very important physiological Have a great mechanisms. Other than that, I am not aware of his personal foibles.

Have a great weekend.

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Common Knowledge Edinburgh's avatar

I have mentioned that experiment thousands of times and even read an article on him during this blog, but still called him 'Pavel' and ignored the slight buzzing in my brain about it. Perhaps it's cognitive decline.

As for his work, I think it has been a disaster for the human race as the techniques it gave rise to have not been accompanied by a greater awareness of the human soul or sharper thinking about manipulation (see Covid). As a person, and a dog lover, I object to him: the flood led him along a new path of deliberately traumatising dogs to see if he could provoke and then return them from a nervous breakdown. Appears pretty needless to me.

Enjoy your weekend.

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