From: RFaussette@aol.com
Date: Tue Oct 07 2003 - 07:22:07 EDT
In a message dated 10/6/03 8:22:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
tdavis@messiah.edu writes:
> Dr. Bekoff will argue that we can learn much about "wild justice" and the
> evolutionary origins of social morality by studying social play behavior in
> group-living animals through interdisciplinary research. Among the questions
> that Dr. Bekoff will address are: What are the evolutionary roots of
> cooperation, fairness, trust, forgiveness, and morality? How do animals negotiate
> agreements to cooperate, to forgive, to behave fairly, to develop trust? Why did
> play behavior evolve? What is the taxonomic distribution of cognitive skills
> and emotional capacities necessary for individuals to be able to behave
> fairly, to empathize, to behave morally? Dr. Bekoff will conclude that there is
> strong selection for cooperative fair play in which individuals establish and
> maintain a social contract. Further, in studying the role of play behavior in
> the evolution of social morality, it is important to study a wide range of
> animal behaviors and to avoid “primatocentrism.”
>
This is modern research. does it really serve Biblical exegesis to
incorporate scientific perspectives the ancient Biblical authors did not share or is it
more appropriate to look to their ancient paradigm and the observations and
tools the ancients had at their disposal to understand why and how they were
inspired within the bounds of their own paradigm to fashion Biblical stories
as they did?
Let's take a look at an example of this animal activist's science:
by Mark Bekoff, in which he says:
I think of play as being characterized by what I call the "Five S's of Play,"
its Spirit, Symmetry, Synchrony, Sacredness, and Soulfulness. The Spirit of
play is laid bare for all to see as animals prodigally run about, wrestle, and
knock one another over. The Symmetry and Synchrony of play is reflected in the
harmony of the mutual agreements to trust one another - individuals share
intentions to cooperate with one another to prevent play from spilling over into
fighting. This trust is Sacred. Finally, there's a deepness to animal play in
that the players are so immersed in play that they are the play. Play is thus
a Soulful activity, perhaps the essence of individual's being at the moment as
they play from deep in their hearts.
There's also a feeling of incredible freedom and creativity in the flow of
play. So it's important also to keep in mind the six F's of play it Flexibility,
Freedom, Friendship, Frolic, Fun, and Flow. As they run about, jump on one
another, somersault, and bite one another animals create mind-boggling
scenarios. Behavior patterns that are observed in mating are intermixed in flexible
kaleidoscopic sequences with actions that are used during fighting, looking for
prey, and avoiding being eaten.
I think that's great, but it doesn't have anything to do with the fall of
Adam or its proper interpretation.
rich faussette
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Tue Oct 07 2003 - 07:22:41 EDT