I previously wrote a brief article regarding Reality but for this entry I want to delve a bit deeper into what I’m really after when I speak of “Truth” and/or “Reality.” Starting in my late-30s I began a road to discovery (both internal and external). I began to question, to wonder, to investigate. Much of it had to do with the wonders of nature, the universe, science, history, philosophy, and cultural norms, but it also …
Science and our understanding of how nature works has always been an evolving process over the centuries. Even with the frustrations of paradigm science and the attempts to drag orthodoxy begrudgingly along to adopt new solid discoveries & theories, progress is eventually made. As we humans continue to seek and discover newfound knowledge, there is always a blockade to progress presented by those who call themselves Skeptics but actuality are Pseudoskeptics These enforcers of the …
I was going to make a simple post about the basic concept of Cause & Effect (also referred to as “Causation” and/or “Causality“). My intent was more-or-less a common-sense discussion of how decisions (individual and/or social/political) affect results. Yet, when you attempt to search online for topics related to any of these terms, there’s a myriad of hyper-academic papers and incoherent intelli-talk about a myriad of nonsensical details. All of it so complex and disconnected …
We all think. But do we think well? Accurately? Proficiently? Correctly? Astutely? Properly? Objectively? In all actuality most of us barely operate at anything above basic knee-jerk emotional responses. Psychologists and philosophers would consider it something akin to unconscious thought. I wouldn’t even agree that it should be called “thinking.” A more accurate name for it would be “GarbageThink.” It’s fraught with errors, biases, prejudices, unfounded beliefs, stupid assumptions, educational/cultural indoctrination & peer pressure, as …
When it comes to intellectual argument and debate, there’s a philosophical concept known as the “Burden of Proof” that should (when observed properly) direct the debate at hand. Argument is truth-seeking and is concerned with leading us to hold true and accurate beliefs/assumptions – and therefore rejecting false beliefs. Lazy thinking and sloppy argumentative technique usually rule the day however. If you have any concern for Proper Thinking you’ll want to understand this often-misapplied concept. …
I came across the following brief 8-minute video and accompanying article shortly after my last post on Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The writer does a very good job of eloquently explaining how scientific “correctness” impedes scientific progress, thereby dovetailing and supporting the very behaviors (and dangers/risks) that are outlined in Kuhn’s book. In this context “scientific correctness” refers to the scientific establishment’s adherence to the dominant paradigms at the exclusion of all other …
Scientific “Correctness” vs. Scientific Progress Read More »
How does the general public think Science operates? How is it performed? How does it progress? How do working scientists assist and enable progression into revised and new theories over time? The Misconception Most laity and fans of science typically think of science this way: It’s an objective search for truth and reality of all things in nature and the universe. It adheres strictly to the Scientific Method and yields results leading to welcomed changes, …
Since I just posted about this week’s Lunar Eclipse, I may as well also post about our 2017 Total Solar Eclipse experience. The United States was treated to a rare opportunity to see a total solar eclipse as it traveled across the continent on August 21, 2017. I promised myself when I was a kid while watching the 1970 eclipse on TV, that I would make a point of directly experiencing the totality of the …
Sunday night January 20, 2019 we were treated to relatively clear skies in Louisville, KY for a total lunar eclipse. I stepped outside into the frigid cold before midnight to have a look just prior to, and into the time of totality. What a beautiful red hue this magical orb took on! It was called a “super blood wolf moon eclipse.” I don’t yet have my recently-purchased (used) Meade LX200 Classic 10-inch telescope up and …
What Is Intellectual Integrity? Do you have an internal desire to uncover truth – real truth? Do you care about the accuracy of your knowledge, beliefs and claims? Does it bother you if you might be professing knowledge that’s wrong? Does reality matter to you? Do you feel the pursuit of truth deserves a thorough, honest approach and analysis? If so, then you definitely resonate with the concept of Intellectual Integrity. Intellectual Integrity has everything …
What is autodidacticism and what can it mean for you being an autodidact? “Stack of Old Books” by Austin Kirk is licensed under CC BY 2.0 What’s an autodidact? Autodidactism is the process of self-learning, also called self-education. An autodidact is a person who chooses (on their own) to identify a subject of interest and then learn everything possible about it; preferably researching and studying it in an objective manner. It can be pursued as …
I could write a long article about Conformity, but really … what could be more convincing than this representative example? (video: Brain Games – Conformity (Waiting Room) ) If this is video link is no longer active, check the Wayback Machine here: https://web.archive.org/web/20170808041524/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9O9SokTTA8 Peer Pressure We are pressured and convinced through a lifetime of social conditioning to conform, get along, go along, agree with, regardless of the rationality. This isn’t complicated. You will have a …
Related very closely to the concept of Groupthink is a process called Social Conditioning . However, where Groupthink relates to cognitive issues in a small group, Social Conditioning is concerned more with broad social implications – typically nationwide. Definition: Social conditioning is the sociological process of training individuals in a society to respond in a manner generally approved by the society in general and peer groups within society. Manifestations of social conditioning are vast, but …
In a continuing series of articles regarding barriers to Proper Thinking let’s address Groupthink. “Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.” – Walter Lippmann What is Groupthink? Wikipedia: “Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation …
What is Dogma? Dogma is any ideology that demands of its followers unquestioned loyalty and faith. Faith in its doctrines . . . in its leaders . . . in its proclamations. Behind its ‘scripture’ may stand elements of truths – some of which can (and are) useful at times. However, it demands no questioning of its current tenets – particularly by laypersons and “outsiders.” Violators of this edict are either ignored and/or ridiculed and …
I saw this on a car’s bumper sticker today: “Don’t Believe Everything You Think” It definitely struck me and resonated with what I continually try to focus upon. Always question your basic beliefs and assumptions. Objectively (truly objectively) look at all points of an argument or belief. Use the Clinical Attitude whenever possible. Embrace intellectual integrity and be willing to admit that beliefs you’ve held for many years may be wrong when you’re presented with …
I originally wanted to start the “Science” category with a short series of posts discussing some very basic introductory concepts to serve as a baseline/reference for future discussion. However, I happened to be in the middle of some great research involving the helical motion of the solar system, so I chose to grab the fire while it was burning and go ahead with that article first. So, stepping back a bit to address the basics …
Part 1 can be found here Summary of Part 1 So . . . . in a similar manner to my experience, we have someone (DjSadhu) discover a fact that: was never before shared with him in any form (school, documentaries, books, web sites, etc.), and was a revolutionary idea totally different from what he did learn, so he had to share his “aha” moment with others. Unlike me (no video animation expertise) DjSadhu produces …
An instinctive visualization? Based on science classes in school, books we’ve seen, images online, and even TV documentaries, most of us (laypersons) visualize the Solar System something like this or this. We are taught the planets circle the sun in elliptical orbits at various distances and speeds, and for the most part the orbits are very nearly in the same flat, geometric plane (Pluto being the obvious exception) . Through life we end up carrying …
her·e·tic ˈherəˌtik/ noun – a person believing in or practicing religious heresy 1.1 – a person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted. (source: Oxford dictionary) I’ve spent years as a seeker – looking for answers to questions; keys to life; secrets of success; hidden/esoteric knowledge; ultimately the truth. I think it started sometime in the mid- to late-90s when I was in my late 30s. However, when I really think back …
I love this quote: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” – Buckminster Fuller (Featured image by Steve Yelvington on Wikimedia Commons, licensed by Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International)
“They must find it difficult . . . those who have taken authority as truth rather than truth as authority.” – Gerald Massey (Featured image by PDPics from Pixabay)
“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” – Arthur Schopenhauer (Featured image by Robert on flickr, licensed by CC BY-NC 2.0)
“Belief nor disbelief disprove or affect reality.” – Stewart Harris (TOMI) (Featured image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)
Rosicrucians, because of their world view of questioning everything, are frequently known as Walking Question Marks. Some applicable quotes from the monograms include: “A true Rosicrucian is a walking question mark.” “A lack of explanations or obscure statements never satisfy a Rosicrucian.” “This is the spirit of the Rosicrucian – a person who is not so quick to accept as truth that which they are told is truth. Rather, a Rosicrucian is one who is …
Socrates couldn’t have been more right! “For wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.” – Socrates (via Plato’s Theaetetus) (Featured image by Free-Photos from Pixabay)
I first ran across this article in 2008 and was struck by it’s simple yet deeply accurate assessment of critical thinking. With many things in life, as I grow older the discoveries I made years ago that struck me at the time as extremely important are many times now less inspiring. However, THIS article is not one of them. 🙂 Peter Suber’s 1,065 words reflect the best representation of intellectual integrity as anything I’ve read …
The Clinical Attitude Toward Arguments by Peter Suber (an Incredible Truth Tool!) Read More »
You’ll find I periodically state, “Don’t deny reality.” What does that mean and why is it important? What is Reality? (basic definition) As it relates to the way I use it when I say, “Don’t deny reality,” I mean it from the simple perspective of Knowledge Adventuring: If you have facts and/or a preponderance of evidence staring you in the face, don’t delude yourself by denying its existence. Don’t ignore it. Don’t default to Cognitive …
Another critical barrier to “Proper Thinking” and intellectual integrity is the theory of Cognitive Dissonance. It’s important to understand that this cognitive weakness can be the reason for us to default to other barriers to accurate thinking such as Confirmation Bias and Rationalization. As part of our Knowledge Adventuring it will always serve us well to be aware of these thinking biases and adapt our attitude and approach to the pursuit of enlightenment and truth. …
Another personal impediment to “Proper Thinking” is Rationalization. If we want to improve our intellectual integrity and thinking prowess we need to be on guard from making rationalizations. What is it? I like Neel Burton’s definition: The use of feeble but seemingly plausible arguments either to justify something that is difficult to accept (sour grapes) or to make it seem ‘not so bad after all’ (sweet lemons). We do something not so smart (a bad …
This post, my inaugural entry to deal with one of the many specifics of “Proper Thinking,” will be devoted to Confirmation Bias. With regards to the How, Why and What of thinking, this falls into How – honestly acknowledging a barrier to proper thinking in order to adapt and refine our adventuring path towards the pursuit of Truth. The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion (either as being the received opinion or …
Poor Thinking Most people cruise through life with nary a thought about thought. And, really, why bother thinking about how well, or poorly, you think? What difference does it make? That depends, really. Do you care if others think you’re stupid? Do YOU care if you look stupid? More importantly, do you care if you ARE stupid? Or the converse . . . do you worry people might think you’re too smart? Will they treat …
Proper Thinking – Realizing I Don’t Think Correctly Read More »
If I had to identify the most critical element of the shaping of my life and persona, it has to be my passion for the pursuit of truth/accuracy/reality. At first I thought this was something that came about in my thirties. However, over the years in doing various exercises to identify my true mission and purpose in life, I realize I’ve always been hugely concerned with identifying, understanding and conveying what was truthful and accurate …