Skills of Hand & Brain & Eye
22/12/10 22:26 Filed in: Human Nature
“The essential failure of capitalism is that the kind of society which capitalism creates is one that can never fully employ the skills of hand and brain and eye, the exercise of which is part of man’s true being” (Alasdair MacIntyre’s Engagement with Marxism, p. 6)
A recent report on NPR discussed the frustration parents have with their children playing violent video games. A recent study showed, they reported, that children who play video games have increased spatial recognition and other cognitive abilities over those who do. Supposedly, someone who plays a video game uses a different part of the brain to perceive space than do people who do not play video games. Thus, it takes those who do not play video games more time to process spatial reasoning abilities. This effect lasts for two years after someone has stopped playing the video game.
I think this finding is interesting on a number of levels.
On one level, it asks us what is the cost of improving our brains in this manner viz., playing violent video games? Also, it raises the question about whether the video games that are played must be violent?
On another level, it brings in the notion of skills versus virtues and those things “the exercise of which is part of [humanity’s] true being.” Those familiar with MacIntyre know that he later writes of skills within the context of practices. Practices are defined with respect to the internal goods that define the good and the way that a practice, as opposed to other human activities, human powers and the human conception of the good. This emphasis on practice over skills marks a qualitative change from MacIntyre’s position in the quote above: the issue is not just skills. But it remains those things which constitute part of humanity’s true being.
Which brings us to the third level: what is humanity’s true being?
This question constitutes the fundamental question of philosophy and religion. It also should be one we ask at certain times through the year: Christmas and Easter being one of those times, but also at our birthdays and anniversaries.
It comprises a question that every one ask or risk leading a worthless life.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” -- Socrates
A recent report on NPR discussed the frustration parents have with their children playing violent video games. A recent study showed, they reported, that children who play video games have increased spatial recognition and other cognitive abilities over those who do. Supposedly, someone who plays a video game uses a different part of the brain to perceive space than do people who do not play video games. Thus, it takes those who do not play video games more time to process spatial reasoning abilities. This effect lasts for two years after someone has stopped playing the video game.
I think this finding is interesting on a number of levels.
On one level, it asks us what is the cost of improving our brains in this manner viz., playing violent video games? Also, it raises the question about whether the video games that are played must be violent?
On another level, it brings in the notion of skills versus virtues and those things “the exercise of which is part of [humanity’s] true being.” Those familiar with MacIntyre know that he later writes of skills within the context of practices. Practices are defined with respect to the internal goods that define the good and the way that a practice, as opposed to other human activities, human powers and the human conception of the good. This emphasis on practice over skills marks a qualitative change from MacIntyre’s position in the quote above: the issue is not just skills. But it remains those things which constitute part of humanity’s true being.
Which brings us to the third level: what is humanity’s true being?
This question constitutes the fundamental question of philosophy and religion. It also should be one we ask at certain times through the year: Christmas and Easter being one of those times, but also at our birthdays and anniversaries.
It comprises a question that every one ask or risk leading a worthless life.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” -- Socrates
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