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Entropy is as undeniable as gravity and yet both have their detractors. Today, they are called "Progressives."
Arthur Schopenhauer, the German philosopher of the 19th Century and author of the gteat work, "The World as Will and Representation," (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1539705285/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KTVCBbEYQSCNY) is credited with a pithy explanation of the Thermodynamic Law of entropy, that was included in the book, "Murphy's Laws." It goes, "If you put a spoonful of wine in a barrel full of sewage, you get sewage. If you put a spoonful of sewage in a barrel full of wine, you get sewage."
It is amusing, in a pessimistic, "We're doomed," kind of way, that so many non-science types, those who "can't do the math," seem convinced that Anthropogenic Climate Change is "established science" (there's no such thing), when there isn't even agreement, let alone consensus on the primary causes of current climate change, nor especially on what to do about it, but reject much more basic and widely accepted scientific PRINCIPLES, such as; there are only two genders (XX & XY), gravity and entropy exist and both appear to be Ineluctable (unchanging).
All of that is strange...but even more SAD.
It DOES NOT appear that merit/achievement is, in any way, related to race/ethnicity, gender, nor socio-economic condition. It is primarily, even virtually SOLELY an individual trait, which is why I oppose the ideas of "protected groups," group preferences, etc. They stigmatize the beneficiaries and slander those "protected groups" with the stigma of "presumed incompetence." That SHOULD BE an outrage to all decent people. Yet today, we see all sorts of "Progressives" rejecting that view AND the idea of entropy with their policies.
We see it New York City's Mayor Bill DeBlasio looking to scuttle the stringent entrance exams for NYC's elite schools (Stuyvesant, Bronx Academy of Science, etc) because not enough of this group, or that is passing those exams.
It is seen in "Sanctuary City" policies ostensibly designed to "protect migrant workers," but that wind up shielding violent gang members, human traffickers, drug smugglers and other criminals.
It's seen in gender preferences and the lowering of physical standards in Police and Fire Departments and STEM programs in education, because "not enough females appear attracted to math and science."
Perhaps worst of all, it's seen in the policy of putting a few substandard students in with high achieving "Honors Classes," in hopes of motivating the low achievers.
ALL of these debacles are "well intentioned." ALL of them are also predicated in the rejection of accepted scientific PRINCIPLES, like gravity and entropy.
In every above case, Arthur Schopenhauer's Law applies. "Add a spoonful of sewage (low achievers/poor students, those who reject conventional Western morality, break our laws) to a vat of fine wine...and you get sewage. Add a spoonful of fine wine to a vat of sewage...and you STILL have sewage."
It is impossible to uplift the unmotivated, undisciplined, or criminally inclined by contact with the highly motivated, well disciplined law abiders.
Such "environmental impact" only seems to work, when it works at all, in reverse of the way "Progressives" think it does. Highly disciplined, high achieving students can be motivated towards dysfunction when they see unruly, undisciplined, low achieving students mollified, encouraged and allowed to "get away with it."
So, WHY do "Progressives" get that wrong?
Again, most reject basic scientific PRINCIPLES and come from among liberal arts majors who had trouble with the math.
Dysfunction is easy...and, all too often, FUN.
Discipline is hard. Self discipline is hardest of all.
Athletes must have it. Good athletes are all students of their respective sports. They study the body, human performance, as well as game tactics. The undisciplined, but extremely physically gifted almost always fall by the wayside early on, and if they get to a high level never achieve the way more disciplined athletes do. Michael Jordan, Arnie Palmer, Ervin "Magic" Johnson, Larry Bird, Jack Nicklaus,
Bill Russell, Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady were all extremely disciplined and devoted students of their games. They were as devoted and disciplined in their realms as any high level scientific researcher, or business leader is in theirs.
This ISN'T to say, "Why bother" trying to reach the unmotivated, undisciplined, low academic achievers, just that it CAN'T be done by placing them among the high achievers. Entropy doesn't work that way.
Education is a lifelong procedure, because life IS education.
Just as dysfunction is easy and discipline hard, the SAME goes for civilization. Our civilization depends upon the highest achievers being put into positions where they can move society forward. Civilization, as we know it, is tenuous at best. Once lost...extremely difficult to rebuild.
Some poor students and people who were "unmotivated slackers" in youth, will be "late bloomers," BUT education, like maturation is a process that can't be forced.
Today's "Progressivism" is dangerous precisely because it fails to understand and appreciate basic science. That many "Progressives" claim to champion science (at least what science they perceive to be in agreement with their preconceived notions) makes their ignorance only that much more dangerous.
They believe they champion science, in championing their own baseless preconceptions, mistakenly believing that gives them some innate, or a priori understanding of science.
This delusion is what allows so many self-proclaimed "Progressives" to look down on others, the religious, blue collar workers and those heretics who disagree.
That coupled with the cheap (no cost) sense of personal virtue ("I care about my fellow man"...without actually DOING, or sacrificing anything) is too much of a psychological bargain for many to pass up.
However Arthur Schopenhauer remains correct and undeniable. The current and ongoing misguided war on standards has been yet another "Progressive" disaster.
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