Blackfoot 1
What is the European Consciousness?
The European Consciousness is a way of thinking and behaving that originated in Europe in the middle ages and is currently the most prominent way of thinking globally.
What could the "map in the head" be compared to in our world?
Wisdom
What is the imperialist approach to non-Western knowledge?
- Scientific knowledge is uniquely distinguished by its rationality and methodology.
- Its dominance is due to its rationality regardless of socio-historic origins.
- Any non-Western knowledge can only be potentialised by being absorbed into Western canon, otherwise it remains a belief or mythology.
How were (Geographic Information Systems) used by Aboriginal people?
They used it to show the local distribution of the plants and animals, which they already knew from their own knowledge system, in a way that Western-scientists would validate.
What is meant by the sentence "Technology acts somewhat like a virus"?
Give an example to illustrate.
Once technology enters a society, it transforms its entire structure. Thhe introduction of new findings and life enhancers completely changes behaviour and mindset.
What impact could thinking of time as a circular process have on you? How would it influence time-dependent stress if we do not see time as a phenomenon with a beginning and an end?
Discussion in class
What do Western cartography difficulties show about Western science?
The ways in which maps were built in the 1600s were a mishmash of different local knowledges and it was a big effort to standardise it. There was no uniform measure, or grid, for maps, for example. It shows the navigational accomplishments of Western people were not pure data driven and "scientific", so in many ways Western science cannot be distinguished from non-Western science.
What does the process of building Chartres cathedral say about Western science?
It is viewed in the West as a grand work of engineering. But it was build with no understanding of structural engineering or sophisticated architecture. It was built by several consecutive groups of masons that relied on their local traditional masonry practices. It would be perceived by imperialist thought as non-scientific, so it shows that the West is not very distinguishable from non-Western science.
How could we incorporate ethics and morality into science? Has it already been done and what benefits/negative effect could this bring with it?
- Ethics boards
- animal testing
- current paradigm of trying to counteract environmental destruction etc.
In Blackfoot and modern science, different plants have healing powers.
How is this phenomenon explained in both sciences?
Is there an aspect from the Blackfoot view, that can be compared to a scientifically explainable phenomenon?
Modern: Healing is caused by only the chemicals in the plant. Once figured out, what the chemicals are, the remaining part of the plant is irrelevant.
Blackfoot: Healing is caused by a relationship of the human to the entire plant. The associated chemicals are not alone responsible for the healing, but also the belief in the plants powers and its energy contribute greatly to the healing power.
Placebo
1- How was Micronesian island colonisation accomplished?
2-What does this say about Western science and non-Western?
1- A dynamic cognitive map with 3 components: the star compass, etak- technique to estimate distance to be travelled, and a strategic approach for island finding.
The techniques were not calculative, but performative. For example, in etak they imagined canoe to be stationary and imagined a reference island as moving backwards against backdrop of rising or falling stars.
2- It was dismissed by Westerners for a long time as if this colonisation had been by chance, because they thought it impossible that such great distances could be travelled without charts, maps, and measures of distance. Now we have evidence that it was intentional so we know that the same navigational feats as Western can be accomplished with performative techniques.
1-What was the "Green Revolution" in Indonesia?
2- What does it show about Western/non-Western science?
1- Rice originally was reliably produced with an irrigation system from temples
- system was replaced with western irrigation + pesticides
- initially there washigher yield but monoculture eventually led to more pest growth and few viable crops
2- Shows how local knowledge produced over time may account for factors unknown to Western science even if the root cause is not known. So in many cases the local knowledge is more reliable and hollistic, applicable also to long term use of resources.
Is there anything comparable in our modern world to the connection of nature and spirit in Blackfoot culture?
Religion: praying to and believing in a god
(in many points, science/logic and religion contradict each other, but many people still believe in a god, while having the "European consciousness")
How is the justice system constructed in the Blackfoot view and what is its purpose?
Would this way of handling justice work in the modern world?
The purpose of the Blackfoot justice system is to recreate the balance in the universe lost due to an action (crime).
By finding common grounds with the victim and the perpetrator together with a circle of elders, they believe that balance is recreated.
What are knowledge spaces and their components?
Spaces in which knowledge is possible created by making assemblages and linkages. Their components are: people, skills, local knowledge and equipment that are linked by social strategies and technical devices.
For knowledge to be rendered truthlike, there needs to be a social organisation of trust.
1-What is Turnbull's proposal for the integration of Western and non-Western science?
The creation of a "third space" in which there can be a dialogue between the two practices, integrating them, but not determining one as better than the other
- Focusing back on the performative aspects of knowledge, not just representational as is done today in Western
- It is clear that they need to work together especially in cases where Western science has failed and continues to fail
Do you think, a strictly logical approach, not allowing for the incorporation of alternative beliefs and approaches limits you in your way of thinking?
What are the benefits and disadvantages?
Discussion in class
Answers collected on board
Do you agree that the science we have right now is not sufficient for solving today’s problems and does not describe the entire complexity of the world?
Do we need to change the paradigm and norms of science we’re living in?
Discussion
Come up with a 5th example to illustrate the points that Turnbull was trying to make that would also prove his point about non-Western knowledge.
Includes why this knowledge achieves things of note, of similar caliber as what would be achieved with Western science
Includes why this shows that non-western knowledge systems can have different means to come to similar results, or even more effective results
[SEE VIDEOS]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0DMYs4b2Yw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo4WC9tU8Nc&t=256s (1:58-2:53)
What would Turnbull say about the development of meditation as local knowledge in South Asia?
He would likely say that it is another example where non-Western science succeeds where Western fails. Because of their focus on spiritual and performative practices (which would be reneged by Western science), and a holistic approach (that considers all parts of a persons condition, not just a specific cause) Yogic practices have managed to contribute to aspects of mental ailments that medicines cannot. In fact, they are now adopted and reccomended in many Western countries regardless of the use of medication or not.