Tag Archives: philosophy

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Objectivism

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Novelist Ayn Rand founded the philosophy of objectivism.  The philosophy promotes the belief that certain things, especially moral truths, exist independently of human knowledge or our perception of them.

In essence, this is an argument that existence exists.    Contrary to the implication of the question, “Does a sound exist ,if we do not hear it?” objectivism answers clearly, yes.  Sound exists because of its very existence. (i.e., if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around, does it make a sound?  Yes it does.)

Accessibility

Rand’s novels incorporate the philosophy of objectivism within the story and so make it accessible to all.  Rather than just being a intellectual concept which is hard to translate to reality, Rand creates a picture we can identify with. 

My own personal justification for life and my associated behaviour, which I have noted in these blogs from time to time, fully integrates with objectivism. 

Basically considering my life as a search for maximum pleasure (happiness) as long as it is not at the expense of others, maps to the belief there is no greater moral goal than achieving happiness. 

Objectivist and Proud of it

This is a simple philosophy easy to understand and link to our behaviour.   Our society benefits from achievers who build businesses, invent technologies, and create art and ideas. 

While achievement depends on our innate talents and on trade with other independent people,  the ability to succeed is real, anyone can work to reach their goals.

Other people has said I am an objectivist, in a derisive way.  I am and proud of it and ignore the derision.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Enlightenment

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An enlightened state is probably more a concept than a reality.  That is, to achieve freedom from all ignorance and misinformation, enabling full accurate comprehension of everything, is more something to seek than to actually find.

The search for enlightenment requires acceptance of reality.  Philosophically we can question reality as a concept, does it really exist and if so what is it?

For me, reality is neither derivative nor dependent but exists and is tangible.  True enlightenment must be based on reality, ergo, to be enlightened you must accept that reality exists.

An Alien Experiment

It has been postulated humanity is simply an experiment devised by a super intelligent alien race.  Of a pre-programmed series of events generated by a computer where the players are just computer simulations. 

The potential for alternate theories of existence is obviously broad, perhaps infinite and can be fun to contemplate and explore, however, at some point reality intrudes. 

Pragmatically, be guided by what’s real

If we focus on the tangible, what we know and can prove, the reality we construct can guide our comprehension of everything, leading us to an enlightened state.

The underlying principle is we must accept reality, that is to say, although possibilities exist beyond the tangible, it is the tangible that has the real impact on what we do, how we behave, how we feel.

We ignore reality at our peril and our chances of success in our continuing quest for enlightenment (a stretch goal probably never to be achieved) is diminished.  

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Critical Thinking

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Agatha Christies iconic murder mystery detective, Hercule Poirot, often explains that solving a murder is about using the little grey cells with method.

Focusing on both the answer and the question can lead to false conclusions.  Critical thinking is process based, that is focusing on the how, not the why or wherefore.

Unbiased Analysis

The key to critical thinking is drawing conclusions based on facts that can be defined objectively.

The classic murder mystery drama, of which Mrs. Christie is the grand dame, presents obvious circumstances that taken with a purely subjective perspective, lead to an incorrect conclusion.

These novels are of course entertainment but they are based on an invaluable phliosophy, follow a process rather than jump to conclusions.

The Greek Route

The term critical thinking is derived from the greek word kritikos (critic).  The foundation of critical thinking is the act of developing a critique.

That is, carefully examining the facts and  laying out the rationale for the conclusion that satisfies all the facts.  Filling in the gaps with assumptions or logical conclusions is not appropriate.

There is no Correct Answer

Philosophy is basically the practice of critical thinking.  The underlying principle of philosophy  is not to arrive at the conclusion but rather to define and explain the path you followed to reach a conclusion.

A friend of mine who studies many philosophical concepts noted that great philosophers can debate opposite conclusions equally well.

The talent is not so much as to arrive at the conclusion as it is to persuade others that it is the correct conclusion by describing the method by which it was obtained.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

When time runs out

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Everyone dies and you could say this is when your available time has run out.  There is no more time for you to do or experience anything on earth.

Always enough time

Time is a facinating resource to manage .  As long as you are alive there is always more time available.  Planning your death, or when time stops for you is not an average occurance.

At some point, usually unplanned, though not always unexpected (in the case of a long illness or just natural aging) death arrives and your earthly time is over.

No one knows for sure if time continues after death in some other form.  Interestingly, for most, the end of time is not anticipated in the immediate present.

How often have you thought, “there will be time to do that later”.  That may or may not be a true thought.  The risk of your time ending abruptly is probably low, but it could happen.

Managing Time

Given our availble time on earth is limited should we allow this to influence how we spend time today?  Should we worry about running out of time before we complete our bucket list?

Living in the Moment

I have always been a big believer in seeking maximum pleasure for myself as long as it does not impinge on the pleasure of others.

So for me, worrying about how to spend my future time or fearing that I won’t get to everything  is not critical to my pleasure, or lack thereof,  so is not an issue for me.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

A touch of Philosophy

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Reality is of our own making.  Facts are real based on our perception of them.  You might argue human society is an integrated whole, for me, ultimately it’s all about me.

Only you can control your thoughts and behaviours. External influences, albeit real, do not make changes in and of themselves. Only you can act.

Everything can come to pass in the fullness of time .  With a little patience and some saliva  ants can devour an elephant.

Sound like nonsense?

Given the nature of thought,  there are truly no absolutes.  If I think it,  then it is real.  Probably not, surely some balances exists between facts commonly accepted as “true” and our own perspectives, perceptions and interpretations of these facts.

The cynical me argues a rational argument exists for any reality.  For example I could state the sky is orange , not blue.  Since I believe it, is it true?

By common agreement the sky is blue, therefore I am at fault with the facts.  How so, just because the there is a plurality of belief of among other humans as to the color label am I  wrong?

This of course is where standards and agreements come into play.  Total anarchy around facts would lead to disintegration of culture.  Without some common acknowledgements inter-operation of individuals becomes virtually impossible.

A common Reality must Exist and be recognized as such

” I think, therefore I am” is a broad and universal statement of existence.  If it is false, I do not exist.  If I do not exist, then you do not exist as your existence ( at least validation of it) depends on my existence.

Ah, the joy of the circular argument.

Today’s post while largely a bit of whimsy and a bit of fun does stem from real conversations I have had with my colleagues and some others over the last week.  An interesting week to say the least.