The things we don't question

[miriam_e]

It 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*

Comments

[gillen.livejournal.com]

So long as we refuse to justify our fundamental assumptions we will never find common ground.

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.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

You mean like 1+1=2 ???

:)

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.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

Ahhh... but I only answered the last part of your point.

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.