To make an argument go on forever, strip away the pesky details and make it about a universal principle.
Then people can justify their fears and desires behind a veil of righteousness.
Tag: reason
- Theme: Self
Passion relies on possibility
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1–2 minutesThere is only passion (and argument) when a situation is unsettled.
If thoroughly confirmed and believed, the situation enters the state of fact: an operating condition of reality, not a possibility or hope. - Theme: Systems
Does emergent consciousness require consciousness?
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1–2 minutesOdd thought: Our world made us to see itself. What if atoms were made in a way that allowed them to be capable of arranging themselves in a way that permitted comprehension of atoms?
This circular argument implies matter itself has a will toward the complexity necessary for self-awareness. - Theme: Growth
reason over results
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1–2 minutesAs a somewhat intelligent individual, I am better at excuse-making and ad-hoc explanations than I am overcoming.
- Theme: Growth
Describing vs. Explaining
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1–2 minutesWe tend to explain how something works to describe what it is.
We can break it down into categories and measurements, but this pretends to be understood without clarifying or enlightening.We need to know how something fits into the world more than we need a fact sheet.
- Theme: Growth
what is the use of theory?
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1–2 minutesto harm stupidity. to destroy the presupposition of common sense. to open up new possibilities. to make change.
- Theme: Growth
Soft Spot for Nonsense
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1–2 minutesIt seems apparent that we should turn from detrimental chaos and return to accountability, responsibility, and transparent governance structures.
Yet, on a personal level, to become responsible is difficult because we enjoy our "freedom": freedom defined as a release from obligation.
On a societal level, to turn away from nonsense appears limited to capitalist or bureaucratic "logic": logic defined by economics and institutions.
These challenges are due to a carefully nurtured naivety, a soft spot for nonsense. - Theme: Systems
Bottom-up rationality to combat nonsense
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1–2 minutesContinued contradictions become nonsense: illogical, irrational closed systems perpetuated by mass-concensus, dogma, and momentum. The danger of engaging, even to critique, is to become corrupted (contradictory) yourself.
To avoid corruption, we must return to bottom-up rationality instead of top-down nonsense.
- Theme: Growth
Planning beyond reason
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1–2 minutesWorking through an insanely optimistic plan changes how you think.
Keep your small daily habits, continue to aggregate your marginal gains, but occasionally go through intense exercises involving schemes for way too much money, insane destinations, and novel values. It can entirely change your life. - Theme: Self
Hierarchy’s abusive logic
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1–2 minutesThose in authority become assured of their beliefs: "Since I am in power, it must be due to the quality of my thinking and dedication."
Unfortunately, when their patronizing, narrow-minded edicts meet resistance, they can only see the dissention as rebellion: "Can’t you see this is not only for your own good, but the good of all?"
Any response from below is inherently nonsensical, simply because it is from below: "If your thinking were correct, you would be in my role."
And yet, if the arguments do make sense (logic) then to maintain their role (identity) the authority must revert to bullying to maintain status (coercion). "Do it, or else."