WT, In thinking of "culture as a psychological phenomenon that serve(s) a utilitarian purpose--that of permitting humans to manipulate their environment", it is important to state that this manipulation (culture) has been in many contexts, and can continue to be in given contexts, both utilitarian for humans and beneficial to their environment. While the "institutionalization of mistakes" does seem to be a characteristic behavior of modern Western Culture, it is certainly neither a characteristic definitive of culture nor a behavior characteristic of all cultures. Otherwise, we are without hope, and science is merely a utility for institutionalizing those mistakes.
jlh Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.
