The things we don't question
Sep. 20th, 2004 01:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miriam_eIt is obvious that...
It is simple commonsense that...
Clearly it is...
This is where we make our biggest mistakes. These are the points where we differ from other rational, intelligent people. So long as we refuse to justify our fundamental assumptions we will never find common ground. Even worse, you can question your own assumptions and back them up to the nth degree, but if I refuse to do so then we are hardly better off.
It is hard enough for atheists and agnostics, but it is almost impossible for those afflicted with religion. That mind-virus specifically forbids questioning anything that might threaten its hold on the mind it infects.
But even if your mind is relatively free, how do you question everything? We all have blind spots where the mistakes hide. How do you question something that is virtually invisible? And even if you can unravel your innermost assumptions, where is it safe to stop? At some point you need to start from an assumption, right? Or is that a baseless assumption?
*sigh*
It is simple commonsense that...
Clearly it is...
This is where we make our biggest mistakes. These are the points where we differ from other rational, intelligent people. So long as we refuse to justify our fundamental assumptions we will never find common ground. Even worse, you can question your own assumptions and back them up to the nth degree, but if I refuse to do so then we are hardly better off.
It is hard enough for atheists and agnostics, but it is almost impossible for those afflicted with religion. That mind-virus specifically forbids questioning anything that might threaten its hold on the mind it infects.
But even if your mind is relatively free, how do you question everything? We all have blind spots where the mistakes hide. How do you question something that is virtually invisible? And even if you can unravel your innermost assumptions, where is it safe to stop? At some point you need to start from an assumption, right? Or is that a baseless assumption?
*sigh*
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no subject
Date: 2004-09-19 09:13 pm (UTC)It is simple commonsense that...
Clearly it is...
These are a sample of phrases used by politicians and other people of dubious credulity to prefix the most outragous statements.
"Let's face it..." is inclusive and asking for blind acceptance.
"It's been said..." asks for acceptance based on the mob mentality (you do want to fit in, don't you?) or an appeal to an unseen authority.
In speech and writing, I prefer to see such statements as (nearly always) being redundant or padding at best.
That mind-virus specifically forbids questioning anything that might threaten its hold on the mind it infects.
Religion asks that the individual supplants logic with faith. Once that is done, anything is possible.
Faith is then the magical catch-all for when things don't make sense. Rationality gives way to circular arguments which were predicated on shaky assumptions. These assumptions need not be tested because they're handed to you as an article of faith and you're forced to blindly accept.
Pseudo-science lets you pick-and-choose -- don't like what someone else is saying? Well, it's obvious that they're a heathen, have no faith, are an unbeliever, are evil, etc. From there you can proceed to pity them, argue with them, try to "educate" them, attempt to convert them, throw rocks at them or declare war on them.
At some point you need to start from an assumption, right? Or is that a baseless assumption?
A few things are self-evident truths...axioms are more reliable than assumptions.
A lot of things, however, are taken as given. Even in science, some theories have been accepted for centuries. Then-again, it's never seen as a bad thing in science to test a theory. Indeed, it's often seen as a good thing to disprove a long-held theory or elevate it to a proof. This methodology is what makes it rigerous and distinct from a disease of the mind, IMHO.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-20 04:31 am (UTC)They massacre the language. One of my favorites is at this point in time meaning now. Another is in the fullness of time which really doesn't mean anything. They are the worst misusers of language of any group. Just watch them being interviewed on TV.
There was one slimeball in the Liberal Party... can't remember his name... he was almost singlehandedly responsible for a waterfront crisis a few years back. He is able to talk and talk, and at the end of his long spiel you realise, astonishingly, that he has said absolutely nothing at all. Amazing!
no subject
Date: 2004-09-19 10:18 pm (UTC)Do we need to find common ground? I mean, if everyone believes something then it's almost certainly either untrue or watered down so much as to be useless.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-20 04:50 am (UTC):)
I am gradually coming to the conclusion that maths is the true language of the universe. Have a look at some of the POV-Ray virtual worlds I've posted images of and you can see how maths can define extraordinarily complex things... like entire worlds. I've recently been trying to develop a computer language to define animation, intention, and motivation for use in creating virtual worlds populated with artificial life.
I'm certain that morality can be stated in mathematical form. I can't do it yet, but I'm sure it will be done in the near future. There are certain aspects of morality that lend themselves nicely to maths. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is one. Another is the greatest good for the greatest number. Another is no-one gets left behind. Another is enhanced survival of the race. That last one is particularly interesting because it is so easy to define and has interesting ramifications.
What determines humanity's capacity for survival? Probably two things more than any other: our incredible intelligence, and our ability to care for each other. Our intelligence, specifically our ability to manipulate symbols exempted our puny, weak bodies from normal evolutionary pressures. Our ability to empathise and to care for each other let us build up into families, tribes, towns, cities, countries. Caring for others is a very powerful strategy for survival. Birds care for their chicks, mammals care for their babies and group members. We would do well to learn from this I think.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-20 04:56 am (UTC)Do we need to find common ground?
If we were smarter and gentler and less xenophobic then maybe we wouldn't need to find common ground. Unfortunately that day may be quite some way off yet. In the meantime we probably need to maximise understanding in order to empathise with each other. It is probably our only way out of the dangerous fixes we seem to be working ourselves into.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-20 06:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-20 06:21 am (UTC)Reading your comment was like a rubber band breaking. I laughed out aloud.
Utterly beautiful response!
Thankyou. Brightened my day immeasurably. :D
Which is a very wordy way of saying: hahahahahaha rotfl :D
(love the icon, by the way)
questons
Date: 2004-09-23 03:14 pm (UTC)BAAAAHHH
Thats how the sheep do it yeah?
love to you Mims
Jenna
Re: questons
Date: 2004-10-01 10:16 pm (UTC)Permission
Date: 2004-09-24 04:00 pm (UTC)I'm not sure it shows up though... Anyhow, I'd really love to use it, but understand if I can't. I swear it won't be for money or anything else like that. If you'll let me, please email: Horsepetcal@aol.com (yes, kiddish name, but I've gotten too attached to change it) :)
Thank you,
Amitra
Re: Permission
Date: 2004-09-24 04:22 pm (UTC)If you have problems making it look clear let me know and I'll try to turn it into a small picture suitable for that, and email it to you.
Let me know your LJ name.