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@3RU7AL
The article is not meant to have a conclusion but rather to stimulate a conversation, there's not really a point in making a conclusion within a discourse as it's meant for the collaboration of others, I was intending for you to provide your insights, which you have yet to do. I'm merely trying to stimulate the dialogue to recognize questions, and then solve them together. If you intended on receiving conclusion without your participation, you should read an official publication and not be engaging in a discourse which requires collaboration. Thus far, my contribution has been stimulating the idea of the utilities of Solipsism.
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@3RU7AL
Solipsism does not claim that nothing is empirically verifiable but rather that only one's mind can be known to exist. The idea is founded upon the concept that anything a person can conceive must conceive within their mind and any idea within a person's mind is subjective to interpretation or perception. Therefore, nothing a person can conceptualize can be known as objective but rather their subjective interpretation. Ultimately, it denotes the idea that objective reality is rather an illusion as it rests upon the concept of a collective subjective reality. As we know, when many people believe in something it doesn't make it true but rather known.
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@3RU7AL
I understand your point, rather you're missing that one's own experience of objective reality is still a subjective and unknown experience to others since it is still experienced within your subjective mind. Therefore, objective reality could be experienced differently between individuals.
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@3RU7AL
@Best.Korea
If someone sees someone else fly off the ground, they may be insane, if everyone sees someone fly off the ground it is verifiable.
The difference is that one is abnormal from the rest while all is not abnormal from itself.
Science is objective reality and therefore verifiable by anyone.
Solipsism posits the idea that if everyone sees something happen that does not make it true but rather what everyone believes to have seen.
It questions the idea of certainty since everything is seen through your subjective lens and captivated within your own mind.
Being that this is true, we can acknowledge that no person can experience objective reality but rather their subjective interpretation of it.
Therefore, it challenges whether there is any objective reality at all.
Ultimately, there is no way to prove there is an objective reality. This is because all evidence and everything known to a person is known through their subjective lens as it was computed and understood within their mind. The goal of this is not to waste time proving or disproving the idea of solipsism as solipsism acknowledges that there is potentially an objective reality but rather says there is no way we could prove its existence. Our goal is to discuss the questions and challenges that arise from accepting the idea of solipsism and acknowledging that objective reality is not verifiable and understand how we can go about our lives everyday within our subjective world and still hold people accountable to our subjective standards. It is also to address the questions and the line between objective reality and subjective reality which are typically well defined but, in this case, it is seen as though objective reality is a castle built upon sand of subjectivity as it is not truly objective but rather a subjective standard. Moreover, it is a truly fascinating concept to discover and contemplate. What can we learn from solipsism and how can we use it to better understand the world? This is the topic.
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@3RU7AL
This forum is meant for philosophers and people who want to have a deeper understanding of cultivating a fruitful debate. If you intended to grasp this idea at the depth of a meme, then you should have read a Facebook post.
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@IlDiavolo
I intended this form to be of great depth and was attempting to create a solid starting point for the discussion. However, it would be nice if I did start the forum with a brief description of the topic.
Here's a quick description:
This forum is meant to discuss not only the ability to identify whether a topic or question can become productive but also the ability to turn a question that is known to have an unproductive outcome into a question that can have a conclusive and fruitful result. It is also meant to cultivate a mindset that prepares you to learn from a discussion rather than passing off another person's views because you don't understand them. It's meant to bring recognition that your understanding of words is not the exact same as another, even if you speak in the same language. Therefore, you don't express your ideas the same way hence there needs to be an address where you can understand the differences in your language and uses of words so that you can have the most productive understanding of each other's ideas.
Ultimately this forum is meant to take a deep approach into understanding why debates become unproductive, how disagreements among logical participants can occur, and how to identify the problem resolve the problem and then move forward with a newly concluded understanding of one another.
My point is: "If two participants are logical and clearly express their ideas when they enter a debate, neither one will disagree with the other."
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@zedvictor4
No problem, I don't mean to be too serious and sometimes I should lighten up a bit. Although if there is anything you would like to share, I would be interested in hearing.
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@zedvictor4
@Sir.Lancelot
These forums would be more helpful for others if they were more dense with useful information related to the topic and less invaluable nonsense. I would appreciate anything valuable you could contribute.
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@Sir.Lancelot
I wrote all this myself thank you. I did have the bot carefully refine each sentence but it had many false revisions and took over a week to complete. You obviously haven't used ChatGPT as you would have noticed it has limitations. I don't appreciate your lack of recognition because your foolishly blinded by the cover, as you've demonstrated to me you value the work put into things over their own merits. This is not an admirable trait, and definitely not one of a business man.
Would you thank a crane for constructing a building, or the operator. This is what I say to you.
I challenge anyone to use ChatGPT to tear apart at my claims and statements. How can you say the bot is to blame if you can't even use it properly yourself. If I work at a digging company and learn how to use a backhoe and a skid steer I would be the most powerful and useful in the crew. Surely, everyone would say, well he's the guy with the skidsteer, so it's unfair, but yet you yourself don't learn to use it. You stick with the shovel and say it's easy for his since the machine does all the work. Sure the majority of the hassel is lightend, nonetheless I'm still the one at the controls.
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In this closing chapter, we will examine how to apply the skills we previously discussed in practical situations. The goal is to offer concrete examples of how to put these skills into action. By the end of this chapter, you will be equipped to apply these skills effectively in your daily life, enhancing your ability to communicate and debate productively.
Respect is a crucial component of productive debates, particularly in the sense of avoiding dismissal. It is essential to recognize that every person's perspective has value and that dismissing or disregarding someone's response will only impede progress. By actively listening to and engaging with others' perspectives, even if you disagree with them, you show that you value their contribution to the conversation and are open to considering their viewpoint. This not only fosters a more respectful and productive dialogue, but it also helps to generate the best solution by combining the knowledge of all parties involved. For example, let's say you are having a debate with a coworker about the best approach to a project. Your coworker suggests a method that you initially disagree with, but instead of dismissing it outright, you ask them to elaborate on their reasoning. By doing this, you demonstrate respect for their perspective and show that you value their contribution to the conversation. Through active listening and engagement, you may find that their approach has merits that you hadn't considered, leading to a more productive and effective solution.
Active listening, which involves fully engaging with the other person's perspective and avoiding distractions or interruptions. This can be implemented in any debate, regardless of the topic. For example, if you are having a debate with a colleague about the best approach to a project, you can practice active listening by letting them fully explain their ideas without interrupting or dismissing them. Another example can be during a political debate. During a political debate, it is important to actively listen to the opposing candidate's arguments and perspectives. By doing so, you can fully understand their viewpoints and come up with counterarguments that address their concerns, which can ultimately help you to persuade undecided voters. Active listening also shows respect towards the other candidate, which can help to keep the debate civil and productive. Actively challenging an argument by presenting valid counterarguments and raising new questions can lead to a more productive conversation and a better outcome for all parties involved. Rather than destroying the argument, this approach strengthens it by requiring it to address the issues raised. Through active listening and thoughtful engagement, each participant can contribute to the debate, strengthening the final conclusion by addressing a wider range of issues and presenting more nuanced solutions to the problem at hand.
When you clarify, and better understand the other person's perspective, this can help to prevent misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page. For example, if you are having a debate with a friend about politics, you can ask them to explain their stance on a particular issue to better understand their viewpoint. This allows for a more informed and productive conversation. Another example is during a debate about a project plan in a work setting. By asking questions such as "Can you explain how this part of the plan would work?" or "What data did you use to make this decision?", you can gain a better understanding of the other person's perspective and decision-making process. This can prevent misunderstandings and lead to a more effective project plan.
Letting your emotions take over during a debate can be detrimental to your original purpose. It not only hinders your ability to gain valuable knowledge from the other person but also prevents you from thinking with sound reasoning. For instance, let's say you're in a debate with a coworker about a project proposal, but your emotions get the best of you. You become defensive and dismissive of their ideas, which prevents any progress towards a conclusion. To avoid this, it's essential to step back and approach the debate logically. Taking a deep breath and focusing on the facts can help you make an informed decision and prevent the conversation from turning into an unproductive argument. Moreover, it's crucial to listen and understand the other person's perspective. Asking questions to clarify their viewpoint can provide a deeper understanding of their position and lead to a more productive debate, resulting in a better outcome for everyone involved.
Identifying a communication breakdown is a crucial step towards having a productive debate. Sometimes, miscommunications can occur due to different interpretations of a particular word or phrase. In such cases, it is important to identify the misunderstanding and work together to find a mutually agreed-upon definition. For example, in a recent debate about environmental policies, two parties were using the term "sustainability" in different ways, leading to confusion and frustration. After identifying the source of the miscommunication, they worked together to clarify what they meant by the term, and they were able to come to a more productive agreement that satisfied both parties. By identifying and addressing communication breakdowns, productive debates can be had, and solutions can be found that incorporate all perspectives. Another example would be healthcare policies, two parties had differing opinions on the impact of private healthcare companies on overall healthcare outcomes. One party believed that private healthcare companies were necessary for innovation and competition, while the other believed that they contributed to the fragmentation of healthcare and increased costs. After an intense discussion, they identified that the root of their disagreement was their differing definitions of "innovation." One party defined innovation as technological advancements, while the other defined it as novel approaches to healthcare delivery. By identifying this communication breakdown, they were able to work together to come up with a mutually agreed-upon definition of innovation that incorporated both perspectives. With this issue resolved, they were able to refocus the conversation on the original question and ultimately come to an agreement that took both perspectives into account.
Reframing subjective topics into objective questions is an effective way to steer debates towards productive outcomes. By focusing on objective reality, rather than personal opinions, individuals can reach a definitive conclusion that is based on verifiable evidence. This approach not only eliminates the potential for unproductive arguments but also promotes respectful dialogue. For example, instead of debating the merits of different sports teams, the question can be reframed to consider which team has the highest number of wins. This question can be answered using objective data, leading to a more productive and effective debate. By respecting the value of each person's contribution to the conversation and focusing on objective reality, individuals can come together to generate the best solution based on collective knowledge and understanding. Another example is instead of debating which music genre is the best, the question can be reframed to consider which genre has sold the most records worldwide. This question can be answered objectively based on sales data, eliminating the potential for subjective opinions to derail the debate. By focusing on objective reality, individuals can have a more productive discussion and may even discover new perspectives on the topic. Through active listening and engagement, the group can generate a more informed and effective conclusion.
Finally, it is important to recognize when a conversation is becoming unproductive and to take steps to redirect it back towards mutual understanding. This can be done by acknowledging any misunderstandings or miscommunications and working together to find a solution or common ground. For example, if you are having a debate with a family member about a sensitive issue, such as religion or personal values, you can redirect the conversation back towards mutual understanding by acknowledging their perspective and finding common values or beliefs that you both share. Another example could be a debate between coworkers about the best way to approach a problem in the workplace. If the conversation begins to become unproductive and heated, one could redirect the conversation by acknowledging that both parties have the same goal of finding a solution for the problem and then suggesting that they take a step back and re-evaluate the options together. By doing this, they can focus on finding a solution together rather than getting caught up in disagreement.
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In the previous chapter we discussed about the distinct reasons on why people are unable to come to an agreement, be it a lack of decisive and definitive communication of your idea, your lack of understanding of the others communication, or the debate is based on a topic that cannot be debated because it is subjective and varies between individuals. We also learned that by following the prerequisites for a debate we can avoid coming to a nonproductive result or turning the debate into an argument. This chapter will focus on identifying communication breakdowns. In other words, we will discuss how to recognize the reasons behind disagreements and reach an agreement that considers both parties' life experiences.
Understanding why someone disagrees with you is crucial. They disagree because their life experience has led them to believe that you are wrong. If you don't understand their argument, you might be missing vital information. How can you be certain that you're correct if you're missing information or if a certain life experience contradicts your theory? That's why coming to an agreement in a debate is so important, you must understand the reasons for the other person's disagreement with you, so that you can incorporate their knowledge and life experience to arrive at a knowledgeable and logical conclusion. When you say agree to disagree, or that it is okay to disagree, you're essentially admitting that the conversation was unproductive because either someone didn’t share the information that led to their different conclusion, or your understanding of the world is so fundamentally different that you can't even have a conversation. A debate that is conducted productively with the intent of learning and mutual respect but ends in an agreement to disagree is the least desirable outcome. This happens due to ineffective communication where your logic and life experience weren't properly understood, or because you didn't understand the other person's thoughts that they properly conveyed due to a lack of preparation or inability to understand the necessary words. Both of these are indications of a failure to get to the root of each other's different beliefs and extract the life principles that the other has to share.
The process of identifying the communication breakdown is crucial in a debate as it helps to uncover the root cause of disagreement. The goal of a debate is not to prove oneself right, but to gain knowledge and understanding by learning from each other's experiences and perspectives. It can be uncomfortable when someone disagrees with our ideas, as it challenges our beliefs and forces us to reassess them. The purpose of a debate is to engage in a respectful exchange of ideas, in order to understand the other person's reasoning and adjust our own theory accordingly. A debate with someone who mostly agrees with you is not very productive because their views will be similar to yours, and you are unlikely to learn anything new from them. On the other hand, when someone strongly disagrees with your point of view or understanding, it is highly likely that they will provide you with new information about the topic that you were previously unaware of, and vice versa. In such a scenario, both parties can learn from each other and gain a deeper understanding of the topic. Therefore, engaging in debates with people who have divergent views can be a much more valuable learning experience than with someone who agrees with your understanding.
The purpose of engaging in a debate is to find the root cause of why both parties cannot come to an agreement. This process leads to the creation of a new solution that incorporates both parties' experiences, leading to the best possible solution to the problem. It is uncomfortable when someone disagrees with your theory because you want to create a completely true theory that matches with all aspects of the universe. If someone disagrees with your theory, it indicates that your theory does not hold true for them, and it's not universally applicable. Hence, you enter into a debate to understand why the other person disagrees with you, so that you can either adjust your theory to fit their reasoning or give them new information that they were previously unaware of.
It's important to note that a productive debate is a mutual learning experience where both parties gain knowledge and insights from each other. The key is to identify the communication breakdown and work towards resolving it. Once a mutual agreement is reached, it signifies that both parties' life experiences leading up to this point align with the conclusion. This reinforces the likelihood of the conclusion being true and signifies that you are making the best choice possible as it aligns with more life experience.
Logic is a universal concept, which implies that if someone had lived the same life as you, they would likely arrive at the same conclusion as you. In a debate, the goal is to explain ideas, create collective knowledge, and reach an agreement. If both parties have clearly expressed their ideas but still disagree, the next step is to identify any communication breakdowns. This could involve clarifying word meanings, beliefs, or information gaps. Often, disagreements arise due to a disagreement about a contributing factor rather than the conclusion itself, even if all parties have expressed their ideas clearly. Thus, before reaching a conclusion, it is necessary to agree on all contributing factors. It may be necessary to discuss subtopics in depth until agreement on all contributing factors is reached. Once you have identified which subtopic you disagree on, it is important to discover the communication breakdown on that sub factor by determining which factor you disagree upon and working your way down this communication chain to find the root cause of the disagreement. If there is a fundamental disagreement about the world, a productive debate may not be possible. However, understanding the process of working towards an agreement can help in discussing subtopics to understand differences in foundational beliefs. A productive conclusion in a debate can be reached by understanding the other person's perspective and incorporating their life experience with yours. By doing so, it may be possible to identify the importance of their core belief and work together to create a similar foundational model. This can solve the root issue preventing agreement and lead to a productive conclusion.
Sometimes, a contributing factor to disagreement may be the use of certain words. People often assume that others understand or agree with their understanding of a word's definition, particularly in more advanced philosophical debates. However, misunderstandings can occur when individuals interpret the meaning of a word differently. In such cases, the disagreement is not about the idea itself, but rather about how it is represented. It is crucial to understand the nature of the disagreement in order to identify contributing factors such as word usage, and to arrive at a mutual understanding. Once a mutual understanding is reached, coming to a logical agreement is inevitable.
In summary, the goal is to gain knowledge and understanding by learning from each other's experiences and perspectives, and the process of identifying communication breakdowns is crucial in uncovering the root cause of disagreement. A productive debate is often a mutual learning experience where both parties gain knowledge and insights from each other, and the key is to identify the communication breakdown and work towards resolving it. Additionally, you must agree on all contributing factors and identify the root causes of disagreement in order to come to the same conclusion. Once a mutual understanding or agreement is reached, it signifies that both parties' life experiences leading up to this point align with the conclusion. The ultimate conclusion from a debate can only be reached by understanding the other person's perspective, and incorporating their life experience with yours, forming an all-encompassing conclusion that is coherent with the most life experience.
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As outlined in the previous chapter, the objective of a debate is to generate the best solution by combining the knowledge of all parties involved. If your only aim is to defend your own idea instead of finding a solution to the problem, you are being counterproductive and even harmful to the debate's purpose and productivity. By attempting to make the problem fit your solution, you are transforming the debate into an argument and hindering the collective effort to reach the best solution.
To ensure a productive debate, it is crucial to definitively describe the problem in a way that is both clear and mutually understood. In order to avoid confusion or arguments, all parties involved must have a clear understanding of the problem they are trying to solve. Otherwise, they may be presenting solutions to different problems, leading to misunderstandings and disagreements. This could occur because they do not realize that their proposed solution does not address the same problem that the others have in mind. This can cause frustration among all parties involved, as they may perceive others as not comprehending the problem at hand. This can also lead to the belief that the proposed solutions are foolish or irrelevant to the actual problem and that the other parties are incompetent. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to argue for solutions to problems that they perceive differently from others, simply because they did not clearly describe the problem they were trying to address. Likewise, it is essential to clearly express your ideas, thoughts, and concepts in a definitive way.
Your ideas are a complex representation of reality, and it can be challenging to explain them in simpler, more definitive terms. However, if you cannot communicate your ideas effectively, you cannot contribute to the debate, regardless of how revolutionary your thoughts may be. Therefore, it is not only essential to be clear when describing the problem that needs to be solved, but also to learn the words required to properly explain one's thoughts. It is important to have a vocabulary extensive enough to describe your thoughts accurately. Otherwise, you are not describing your thoughts but rather a foolish or incompetent concept that you believe to represent your thoughts, and this will definitely lead to your own confusion as your potentially revolutionary idea is not accepted in the way that you had preconceived.
Frequently, people use words that they think they understand, without realizing they don’t. While this might be acceptable in casual conversations, it becomes a problem in a debate where clear and concise language is crucial to accurately convey one's ideas. In such instances, it is vital to have a vocabulary that can effectively describe one's thoughts, particularly if they touch on a delicate or sensitive topic. The usage of words such as “right” and “wrong,” “true” and “false,” or “correct” and “incorrect,” may be interchangeable in casual conversations. However, to effectively communicate ideas in a debate, it is crucial to understand the nuances of words that may seem interchangeable. Each word has a distinct definition and mistaking them as interchangeable can lead to miscommunication and a poor representation of one’s thoughts.
Additionally, it is important to avoid using ambiguous words without context, such as "good" or "bad." These words lack descriptive qualities, which makes them ineffective in conveying an idea or concept clearly. Instead, it is better to use language that is more precise and objective. For example, rather than saying something is simply "good" or "bad," it is better to say that it is "good for this" or "bad for that," as this provides a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the topic at hand. Similar words that are ambiguous and lack context are, better, stronger, neater, greater, larger, and so on. Altogether, it is essential to avoid using generalized words when one has a more specific word to convey a precise point in a debate.
To have a productive debate, it is essential to ensure that the concept being discussed is agreed upon by all parties. If a concept cannot be agreed upon, then there is no point in discussing it or making any conclusions. It is crucial to clarify that this is not due to an inability to come to an agreement, but rather due to the nature of the concept itself. The concept being debated must be a concrete or objective idea that is not subjective to individual interpretations. If the concept varies between individuals, it is impossible to come to a conclusion by proving or disproving the idea since each individual will interpret the subject differently, and thus making the debate unproductive. Critical thinking is a necessary component of productive debate as it involves discerning facts from opinions. If conclusions are based on bias or emotional opinions, it becomes challenging to come to an agreement since emotions are subjective and vary between individuals. Therefore, it is essential to establish that the issue or subject under discussion is based on objective reality rather than subjective interpretations. This will create a shared foundation for all participants and enhance the likelihood of a constructive debate. While it is possible to debate emotional topics such as morals, they are often contentious and subjective, varying widely between individuals. Conversely, it is difficult to debate the existence of water since it is an objective reality that is consistent for all people.
When discussing controversial topics that are emotionally charged, such as what is the best book in the country, it may be challenging to reach a productive conclusion. However, one approach is to transform the debate into a concrete question, regarding objective reality, which is not subject to individual interpretation. Instead of asking about what the best book is, the question can be reframed to consider which book is the number one best seller. This new question can be answered based on objective reality rather than subjective interpretation, allowing for a definitive conclusion which is ultimately what defines a productive debate.
Engaging in a debate is crucial as it allows for understanding of differing perspectives that arise from individual experiences. Disagreement in a debate is powerful as it represents the culmination of someone's life experiences that conflict with your idea. This creates an opportunity for mutual learning and understanding, as each person can contribute unique knowledge to construct a better understanding together. However, effective communication is essential for productive discourse. It's important to have a clear goal or problem to solve, and to express oneself clearly to ensure that others can comprehend your ideas, ultimately improving their grasp of the topic at hand.
In conclusion, the objective of a productive debate is to generate the best solution by combining the knowledge of all parties involved. To ensure a productive debate, the problem being discussed must be described in a clear and definitive way that is mutually understood. It is crucial to have a vocabulary extensive enough to communicate ideas accurately, avoid using ambiguous words, and establish that the issue or subject under discussion is based on objective reality rather than subjective interpretations. When discussing controversial topics that are emotionally charged, it may be challenging to reach a productive conclusion. However, reframing the question in a concrete, objective way allows for a definitive conclusion, which is ultimately what defines a productive debate.
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In this chapter, we will discuss what a debate is and why it's important to engage in one. A debate is a collaborative conversation where two or more individuals present their viewpoints and supporting evidence regarding a specific topic or idea. The ultimate objective is to reach a well-reasoned and informed conclusion, based on the collective knowledge and experiences of all parties involved. It's important to distinguish between a debate and an argument, as arguments can often involve emotional appeals and a desire to win at all costs, leading to hostility and animosity between parties. Frequently, conversations start as debates but end up becoming arguments due to the failure to follow the necessary steps for a productive debate. Not following these requirements significantly increases the likelihood of an unproductive argument. This chapter focuses on the concept of a debate, while the next chapter discusses the prerequisites for a productive debate. Only after establishing a clear understanding of the purpose and benefits of a debate can we explore the necessary steps for having one.
A debate is a forum for collective conscious development, where multiple parties gather to discuss a topic or idea, sharing new information to construct a more significant idea than any one individual could create. The objective is to contribute to the collective knowledge of the group, resulting in better solutions and theories for addressing problems or finding answers. In a productive debate, participants are open to learning from others and sharing their own knowledge to improve everyone's understanding. By sharing information, all involved gain a greater understanding of the world, leading to improved solutions and theories for solving problems. Unfortunately, not all debates are productive. The aim of this book is to develop debating skills that foster productive collaboration and solutions, rather than hostile arguments that hinder our ability to communicate productively with other parties, now, or in the future.
A productive debate involves constructive and respectful dialogue, not just out of a moral obligation to show respect, but because without valuing and respecting others, they may not continue to contribute valuable knowledge and wisdom. I’m not referring to the knowledge of their words, but rather their underlying wisdom. Their mere existence is a construction of wisdom from their life experience, and they should be respected as such. Everyone's life experiences shape their beliefs and ideas, so it's important to listen and learn from others with an open mind. However, blindly accepting others' opinions as facts is not productive. Instead, one should strive to understand the fundamental principles underlying others' perspectives, which is essentially their life experience distilled into beliefs. By combining this understanding with one's own life experiences, a more competent theory can be formed that incorporates both. By comprehending why someone holds a certain belief, one gains access to their distilled life experience. The goal is not to adopt others' beliefs, but to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand.
Many individuals rely on product ratings to make purchasing decisions, as they trust that the rating communicates the life experience of others with the product. By sharing this experience, they hope to avoid making the same mistakes. However, people don't simply value the words of others, but rather the underlying meaning behind them. For example, if a competitor writes a negative review, the reader understands their motives and is less likely to trust their words. Instead, people extract the life experience of genuine dislike from their words, rather than accepting their words as wisdom. In essence, a person's words are a low-resolution interpretation of their abstract life experience. Wisdom does not reside in the words themselves, but rather in the implicit meaning and life experience that underlies them.
A person's beliefs reflect their life experience and accumulated knowledge. Understanding why someone holds certain beliefs is like adding their life experience to your own. By comprehending a person’s beliefs and decisions, valuable knowledge, and perspectives from another’s life experience can be gained without personal experience. Engaging in respectful and constructive debates with others allows for collective knowledge and experience, leading to more intelligent decision-making and problem-solving. Through logically and critically minded debates, individuals can gather the life experiences of many, becoming as conscious as if they had lived all those lives combined. This is how cities and iPhones are built, by gathering the past consciousness of others within books or verbal communication, it’s possible to add the consciousness of another to your own. In debates, it's crucial to understand others' perspectives and to extract the principles or life experience behind them so you can add them to your own. Time and life experience are precious in developing beliefs and knowledge. Debating with others can extract the principles behind their beliefs, helping to gain knowledge and understand how their experiences have shaped them. This collective knowledge and experience lead to increased intelligence beyond that of any individual. Proper debate is essential to gain collective knowledge and experience and become more knowledgeable than anyone could be alone.
When individuals engage in debates with the sole intention of winning, they fail to grasp the essence of what debating truly represents and hinders the development of collective human consciousness. It’s essential to avoid becoming this person as they are unwilling to learn and cannot benefit from the conversation. However, their information and point of view may still be valuable to others willing to learn and adapt. Therefore, it's crucial to only participate in a debate if willing to respect others' thoughts and opinions and contribute to collective knowledge. All participants should adhere to standard humanitarian policy and moral principles for productive debates. This involves each person contributing their life experiences and truths while allowing others to do the same. By forming a collective consciousness, individuals can build their own conclusions based on shared experiences and arrive at the best outcome for knowledge. Anyone who does not agree to these principles should not participate in the debate.
In summary, a debate is meant to arrive at a logical and informed conclusion based on the exchange of ideas between participants, while arguments often involve emotional appeals and a desire to win at all costs, without necessarily being logical or productive. A productive debate involves respectful and constructive dialogue, where participants are willing to listen and learn from others while acknowledging that beliefs and ideas are shaped by life experience and knowledge. By comprehending why someone holds a certain belief, one can understand the distilled knowledge of their life and gain valuable knowledge and perspectives from another's life experience without personally experiencing them. Engaging in debates with others allows for collective knowledge and experience, leading to more intelligent decision-making and problem-solving.
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If anyone seeks additional insights on cultivating a mindset that enhances their ability to learn from debates, I am more than willing to provide further elaboration.
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@Math_Enthusiast
In the vast expanse of life's frontier, we proclaim ourselves explorers, boldly venturing forth. Yet, beneath the surface we tread upon, lies a hidden realm we hesitate to explore, held captive by our fears. It is in the depths of the unexplored, where profound mysteries dwell, that fissures fracture our certainties. We profess a thirst for knowledge, growth, and evolution, while our subconscious veers away from the truths we dread. The paradox unfolds as we chase answers, shielding the enigmatic riddles, forever yearning for the truth we circle, apprehensive to fully embrace.
Overall, the passage reflects on the complex interplay between our thirst for knowledge, our fears, and the paradoxes inherent in our pursuit of truth and understanding. It encourages us to recognize and confront our fears, to explore the depths of knowledge, and to embrace the truths we seek, even if they challenge our existing certainties.
In the vast tapestry of mythological tales, a recurring metaphor unfolds. It is the story of a knight's journey into the depths of the forest, where the darkest point becomes the nexus of transformation. Each knight, a different fear must be faced to rescue the imprisoned princess. Within this narrative lies a profound truth: our greatest treasures lie concealed beneath our deepest fears. To conquer and overcome, we must confront the very things we avoid and flee from. Yet, wisdom reveals a deeper realization—we cannot truly vanquish our fears, but rather learn to coexist with them as perpetual victors. This understanding is the key to unbiased enlightenment. It requires releasing emotional attachments to preconceived beliefs and embracing all possibilities, even those we fear the most. Rather than dismissing them as impossible, unhelpful, or undesirable, we seek to uncover the knowledge they hold and discover how to coexist harmoniously. It is through this lens that we gain a richer understanding of the world.
In our exploration of solipsism, I am grateful to have shared insights on its utility. Moving forward, let us engage in fruitful discussions on understanding the world through its lens. As a community, we can open new doors, unveil profound questions, and confront emerging challenges. By recognizing even the most undesirable answers, we realize that they do not alter our reality, but rather reflect what already exists. Thus, there is nothing to fear in seeking answers, for they are already inherent within us. Instead, let us pursue the truth, regardless of its nature, and grasp how even answers once deemed dreadful and unwanted may hold deeper meaning. I have encountered individuals who professed inherent values while denying subjectivity, yet failed to recognize that the subjective nature of answers does not diminish the value they always attributed. It demonstrates how things devoid of inherent value can possess tremendous personal significance. This unveiling of answers does not change our reality, but unveils the understanding of what already exists. Therefore, let us embrace the answers without fear, no matter how atrocious, preposterous, or contrary to belief they may initially seem. Let us approach them with logical, critical, and professional minds as we unravel the mysteries of our world.
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@Mps1213
I guess the question is, was the rate of administration inversely proportional to its length of effect?
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@Mps1213
Why don't the rats choose the cocaine-heroin combination that lasts longer, releases more dopamine, and requires less frequent administration? Could this indicate that their addiction is not solely driven by the state of being high, but rather by the act of getting high, which is why they prefer the shorter-lasting option with ups and downs?
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@Math_Enthusiast
One way solipsism can help us understand the world more accurately is by emphasizing the subjective nature of our perceptions and experiences. It prompts us to critically examine the limitations of our own senses, biases, and interpretations. By recognizing that our perception of reality is filtered through our individual consciousness, we become more aware of the potential for bias and subjective distortions in our understanding.
Moreover, contemplating solipsism can foster a sense of intellectual humility and curiosity. It reminds us that our understanding of the world is limited and encourages us to remain open to different perspectives and possibilities. By acknowledging the subjective nature of our own consciousness, we may become more receptive to alternative viewpoints and more willing to engage in intellectual inquiry and exploration.
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@Math_Enthusiast
I agree that solipsism could have a negative impact on many people who lack the necessary principles to cope with such an idea. For instance, individuals often believe in the inherent value of things, but if they were to realize that inherent value doesn't exist, they might struggle to justify their own sense of value. Only by recognizing that value comes from within could they begin to accept this notion. Therefore, most people would find it challenging to embrace solipsism without it negatively affecting their lives and their values.
However, I can't dismiss the need for understanding solipsism entirely. It's possible that gaining a more accurate understanding of the world could lead us to answers for questions we didn't even realize we were searching for or questions we believed to be unanswerable.
In conclusion, I wouldn't casually share the concept of solipsism with just anyone. Instead, it should be discussed with individuals who are genuinely interested in understanding it and possess the necessary foundational knowledge to accept it without significant consequences. Personally, when I first encountered the idea, it fascinated me and made perfect sense. Furthermore, my strong grasp of subjective values and reality enabled me to accept the concept without experiencing negative emotions.
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@Mps1213
The studies on rats choosing cocaine over other options provide fascinating insights into addiction and its relation to dopamine. I'm eager to delve deeper into the mechanisms behind the rats' preference for cocaine and how it challenges our previous understanding of addiction primarily driven by dopamine. Furthermore, I'm curious about the implications of these findings and what they might suggest for future research on addiction.
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@zedvictor4
Your explanation was an elegant summary of my understanding.
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@Math_Enthusiast
My apologies for misunderstanding your comment, I now understand that you were not claiming my argument used circular reasoning. I now have a better grasp of your intentions, and I appreciate your further explanation.
I also understand your perspective on a pragmatic level and how it relates to the recognition of inherent value in others. I have encountered a similar question myself, and I believe I have found a satisfactory answer. The idea is that nobody wants to be suppressed or denied their rights. By forming a collective union based on self-interest for protection, individuals argue that they will safeguard each other's rights and establish the concept of inherent value. However, it's important to note that this inherent value is essentially subjective, as it is created to secure one's own perceived rights equally.
While I acknowledge your pragmatic viewpoint that treating people with value implies, they must possess value, and if they lack value, we wouldn't treat them as such, I believe both statements are not entirely accurate. The first statement partially holds true in the sense that treating individuals with value reflects a subjective value assigned by oneself. However, it does not necessarily indicate inherent value.
The second part of the statement is also flawed because it assumes that if individuals lack inherent value or are not treated as having inherent value, they would have no rights or protection. I disagree with this notion because if we accept that something's value is attributed by our personal valuation, it explains why certain things hold more value for specific individuals while not for others, and vice versa. This demonstrates that value is not inherent but subjective, based on the individual assigning it.
An example that supports this perspective is the well-known saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." This saying aims to convey that value is not inherent but rather dependent on the individual's subjective judgment. Contrary to the second part of your argument, if everyone universally agrees to assign subjective value to all individuals, then everyone would value each other to the same extent. Therefore, it is not merely pragmatic for people to give value to others; rather, it becomes necessary for their own protection. This forms a collective mentality of safeguarding one another, even when recognizing that nothing holds inherent value.
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@Mps1213
I didn't anticipate the abundance of answers I would find in one place, and I am pleasantly surprised by the wealth of information provided. I hadn't kept a list of questions, so I wasn't fully prepared for the extensive responses I received. While I'm still eager to explore new topics, I'm unsure of what specific questions to ask next.
Initially, I was interested in understanding the cognitive functions of drugs, their subjective effects on individuals, the mechanisms behind addiction, potential medicinal applications, and the broader topic of drug legalization. However, I believe you have already addressed these inquiries thoroughly. Therefore, I'm curious if there's any additional information or areas of knowledge you think I should be aware of based on the subjects we have discussed so far. Furthermore, I would be intrigued to learn about some of the most compelling and substantiated studies you have come across on these topics.
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@Best.Korea
It is important to recognize that your argument does not provide a definitive proof or disproof of existence but rather raises epistemological questions and challenges. It highlights the limitations of subjective experience as a basis for objective knowledge and invites further philosophical inquiry into the nature of reality and our understanding of it.
Recognizing the problem allows us to acknowledge the challenges it presents and seek a reasonable solution, leading to a deeper understanding of our world and the concept of objectivity.
A clear example would be the discovery of the perception of color. The concept that color was actually all other colors except the one being seen initially seemed counterintuitive and absurd. However, by confronting the challenges presented by this understanding and diligently seeking logical solutions, our understanding of color evolved. Through scientific inquiry and experimentation, we gradually unraveled the complexities of light and color perception, leading to the development of more comprehensive theories. Over time, this process enabled us to overcome the initial skepticism and embrace a deeper understanding of how color functions in the world, shedding light on the intricate relationship between light, pigments, and human perception.
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@Math_Enthusiast
I don't see any circularity in using the external universe as a reference to prove our theories about it. This approach relies on an external form of reference, rather than using the proposition itself to prove itself. Therefore, it does not constitute circular reasoning.
It appears that your conviction is that solipsism should be dismissed because you believe it would be unhelpful to accept that nothing can be objectively determined or experienced. However, you haven't provided any reasoning beyond your opinion to support this claim.
I do agree that it is important to understand the world in a way that is useful and guides us toward a successful life. This understanding should be consistent enough for all human beings to communicate and collaborate effectively. However, this alone does not disprove solipsism. It only highlights a potential negative aspect that solipsism could be used to justify. Just like any tool, such as a hammer, can be used with malicious intent, we wouldn't argue that the hammer cannot possibly exist because it has the potential for malicious use.
Therefore, your argument against the existence of solipsism appears to be based on personal conviction rather than logical reasoning to prove its fallacy. Nonetheless, I acknowledge that using our understanding of the world, regardless of the philosophical framework, for the benefit of humanity is indeed helpful.
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@zedvictor4
Based on your previous discussion on subjectivity and objectivity in relation to morality, it seems like you have a good understanding of these concepts. I'm curious if you're also familiar with solipsism and what your perspective is on it.
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Solipsism is a philosophical concept that suggests the only thing that can be known to exist is one's own mind or self. According to solipsism, one cannot be certain of the existence of anything external to their own consciousness, including other people, objects, or the physical world. In essence, it posits that the individual's subjective experience is the only reality that can be truly known.
The term "solipsism" derives from the Latin words "solus," meaning "alone," and "ipse," meaning "self." Solipsism holds that the self is the only thing that can be directly experienced and verified, while everything else is seen as potentially illusory or unknowable.
Solipsism poses significant challenges to our common sense understanding of the world, as it rejects the notion of an external reality shared by multiple individuals. It questions the possibility of truly knowing anything beyond one's own thoughts, perceptions, and sensations. This philosophical position often leads to questions about the nature of knowledge, perception, and the limits of human understanding.
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@Mps1213
I find the given explanations to be reasonable, acknowledging that there may be other logical perspectives on the matter. Ultimately, the researchers involved in such cases struggle to separate their personal opinions from their scientific research, which undermines their competence in conducting objective and unbiased studies.
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@zedvictor4
Certain things possess more positive properties than negative ones. For example, air has enabled the survival of countless individuals, far outnumbering the cases where it has caused harm through toxicity. The same can be said for water.
I previously had a flawed understanding of karma, but now I have gained a much clearer comprehension of this concept, though my point remains the same.
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@zedvictor4
Nonetheless, I would say that thinking old chairs are more likely to break than newer chairs is not a belief. But an assumed though not necessarily accurate probability based upon experience.
I understand that you believe a belief has a lack of evidence or proof in order to be considered a belief. However, a belief is simply something that an individual holds to be true, regardless of whether or not there is evidence to support it. This means that it is possible for someone to hold a belief in something that has physical evidence, and it would still be considered a belief. This demonstrates that beliefs could include the supernatural, the existence of water, the existence of fairies, or the existence of earth. The defining characteristic of a belief is simply that it is something that a person believes, regardless of whether or not there is physical evidence or proof to support it.
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@zedvictor4
I don't think the concept of Yin and Yang can be applied to individual things within the universe. For example, we don't apply it to water, since it is well-known that water does much more good than harm, and so there is not an equal positive and negative. People tried to apply this to people's lives with the concept of Karma, which suggests that what goes around comes around, with an equal state of positive and negative. However, this explanation fails to account for why some people's lives are obviously much worse than others, leading to the development of the less scientific aspect of Karma. Such as in all your lives collectively there is an equal positive and negative.
As far as Yin and Yang is concerned, it does better than Karma since it applies to the universe as a whole, suggesting that all good in the universe is equal to all bad. However, I cannot comprehend the entire universe, so I cannot present any evidence or claim that there is an equal amount of good and bad in the universe as a whole. Moreover, what a person defines as good and bad is subjective.
Regarding the drugs, I do not believe that Yin and Yang applies to independent things in the universe such as drugs. I believe that some drugs are less beneficial than others, just as soda is less beneficial than water. Therefore, we need to do more scientific research or acknowledge the research that's already been done to determine how we can use the available resources better.
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@Mps1213
I find your argument to be logical and convincing. Your experience and research with the drugs, as well as personal usage, is essential to fully comprehend the topic. I believe that a combination of knowledge and experience is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of something. Additionally, I agree with your observation that many individuals viewing this research tend to view it through a supernatural lens, even though they are scientists. It appears to me that the researchers conducting these experiments may be influenced by religious beliefs in supernatural means, leading them to opt for the easiest and most straightforward explanation, rather than delving into the complex science behind it. However, I am interested in hearing your thoughts on why people are not approaching this topic with the necessary scientific mindset to fully understand the science behind it.
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@Mps1213
It's strange, I couldn't find the second one either. Here's a link to another study by the same group that focuses on improved cognitive functions. I haven't had a chance to review it yet, but I intend to do so.
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@Mps1213
After reviewing the experiment's particulars and its findings, I am convinced that it was a rigorous investigation that refutes any claims of cognitive function benefits. Though I would appreciate your thoughts on the two studies I shared with you.
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@Mps1213
I couldn't recall the name of the research, but after searching the results and studies these were the most probable to be what I was referring to.
- Dr. Roland Griffiths has conducted multiple studies on psilocybin, but the specific study where he found that psilocybin can improve cognitive functions by 1 standard deviation was conducted at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. The study was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in 2006, and it was titled "Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance".
- Researchers at Imperial College London and published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews in 2016 is called "Psychedelics and cognitive function: A systematic review." The study analyzed data from 29 studies that investigated the effects of psychedelic drugs on cognitive functions, including studies on psilocybin.
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@Best.Korea
People use fake logic all the time. We could say that the ability to use fake logic can even be more useful than the ability to use actual logic, especially when most people don't even have the brain power to use actual logic.
Fake logic is a common occurrence but it is not more useful than real logic. Using fake logic as a means of avoiding acknowledging failure or understanding the world is detrimental in the long run. When people use fake logic to reinforce their beliefs, they are hindering their own progress and preventing themselves from learning from their mistakes. By creating a model of the world that aligns with their more sacred beliefs rather than the other way around, they are not accepting the reality of the situation. It is equivalent to trying to live life according to the rules of a video game, which is illogical. Although this behavior is understandable due to the emotional pain associated with acknowledging failure, it is not a useful approach to personal growth and development.
Plus, people have a motivation to use fake logic. It makes them feel like they are right, and doesn't require much effort.
There is a strong motivation to avoid pain, but it is crucial to recognize the consequences that may arise in the future if one remains ignorant of their failures or incorrect judgments. This form of recognition is meant to bring the future into tangible terms, making it easier to understand what will happen in the long run if one continues to make the same mistakes. The key point is to acknowledge that making repeated mistakes is worse than taking the emotional pain of recognizing failure, learning from it, and preventing future mistakes. In the movie Zootopia, there is a famous line from one of the songs that says, "I'll keep on making those same mistakes every day." This advice is the most appalling piece of rubbish someone could give spread, as it promotes the idea that it is okay to fail repeatedly without any effort to improve. Instead, it is important to recognize that there is always room for improvement and to strive towards self-development and success by acknowledging failures and preventing their recurrence. This is the best advice for promoting a more successful life.
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@zedvictor4
Belief is necessarily an ambiguously defined word.
In contrast to the statement, I believe that the definition of belief is well-defined. It refers to something that a person holds to be true, regardless of whether it aligns with the views of others. Therefore, it is not difficult to define because a belief is simply the thing that a person considers to be true, irrespective of its universality.
Developing an evolutionary mindset.Now what does that mean?
I am not specifically referring to religious, personal or supernatural beliefs. Rather, anything that a person considers to be true constitutes a part of their belief structure. For example, when I sit in a chair, I believe that it won't collapse, and this becomes a part of my belief structure. However, if I sit in an old chair that looks like it is falling apart and it breaks, I add to my belief structure by acknowledging that old chairs are more likely to break. By adapting one's belief structure to better model the world, it becomes easier to predict the likelihood of certain events, such as whether a chair will break when sat on or not.
I doubt that human systems as they currently are, will ever evolve a standard mindset.
Each individual's unique life experiences and corresponding interactions with reality shape their beliefs, making it impossible for two people to have the exact same belief structure. From birth, an individual's physical form and cognitive functions determine how much extracted life experience they will acquire. It is unlikely for multiple individuals to evolve to a standardized mindset on a personal opinion level. However, by recognizing objective reality as opposed to subjective reality, humanity can accept a standard mindset for objective reality, such as the boiling temperature of water. Confusion arises when people use their personal beliefs to understand objective realities. For example, using supernatural beliefs to explain how an iPhone works. By recognizing the difference between physical and metaphysical reality and knowing when each one is applicable to certain decisions, it is possible to develop a standardized mindset for the physical understanding of the world.
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@Mps1213
I'm interested in learning more about microdosing cognition-enhancing drugs, which can potentially promote long-term or permanent improvements in cognitive abilities such as memory, focus, and awareness. Jordan Peterson has discussed how low-dose psilocybin mushrooms have been found to increase cognitive abilities by approximately 1 standard deviation. I would like to know more about the potential benefits and drawbacks of microdosing for long-term benefit and improved cognitive abilities.
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@Mps1213
So we can see right here that when that cortex is over drive there will be a more emotional response. That explains why there is so much “spirituality” or religious type experiences when taking psychedelics. The experience and hallucinations feel very real, and since that part of the brain is highly active it also feels incredible emotional and important to the person.
Your personal experience with the drug and its effects on cognitive functions is very insightful. Our understanding of our own existence and reality is dependent on our consciousness or cognitive abilities. When a drug overly stimulates these functions, it can increase our awareness of reality, making the experience feel hyper-real even though the surroundings are the same. One example of this is an increase in spatial awareness where one can be aware of many things at once. When I took a small dose of psilocybin mushrooms, you experienced an increase in peripheral vision and noticed patterns and features of images more easily. The heightened connection with reality can feel emotional and spiritual, which may explain why some users, who are unfamiliar with the science or have a religious background, may associate the experience with a religious one. Overall, this provides clear insights into the functions that these drugs can induce and why they have been spiritually correlated by many people.
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@Mps1213
I am interested in understanding the science behind hallucinogens, such as what causes the hallucinations and spiritual experiences. I am also curious about why they are often associated with unexplainable events and strange stories. For example, I have heard of groups of people taking the same drug and all experiencing the same dream. While I am not a conspiracy theorist, as I only acknowledge the facts; I have listened to podcasts by Joe Rogan, and I can't help but wonder what is so unique or mysterious about these drugs that make them such a focus of research.
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These previous four chapters should more than suffice in starting off the forum and stimulating everyone's thoughts of how you develop mentally.
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Part 4:
Let's discuss an example of how we can use our belief structure to solve a real-world problem. Say you attempted a math problem and the answer turned out to be incorrect. To use your belief structure in solving this problem, you must identify which of the contributing beliefs made you believe that the answer was correct. You held several beliefs, including that you had done the steps to the math problem correctly, that you had counted it in your head correctly, and that you hadn't forgotten anything. These contributing beliefs led to a sacred belief, that you had the correct answer. However, since the answer turned out to be false, you must acknowledge that your belief structure must have had a false support and identify which of the contributing beliefs was false.
What would someone do by using fake logic and holding on to their sacred belief? They would say well I know the answer has to be correct so maybe the test is wrong, they start creating supports to hold up their sacred conclusion so that they don’t have to acknowledge their failure while sadly remaining ignorant to the solution to prevent this from happening again. While the proper thing to do is let go of your sacred belief such as that you got the answer right and rethink, the answer would have been right if all my supporting beliefs were true. Therefore, one or more of the supporting beliefs must be false, and sure enough your supporting belief that you did the steps to the math problem correctly was false since you forgot to carry the one.
This is a clear illustration of how holding onto a sacred belief and using fake logic can lead to errors. To avoid this, it is important to let go of incorrect beliefs and examine what led you to hold them in the first place, identifying any false supporting beliefs. Once these have been identified, you can learn from your mistakes, figure out the cause, and then deduce how to prevent it from happening again. By adapting your mentality in this way, you can gain a better understanding of the world and become a more effective navigator through life's changing environment.
False beliefs are often created to support sacred beliefs, and this type of flawed thinking can have much more damaging consequences than making errors on a math exam. It can lead to naivety, mistrust, and an inability to live life fully. For example, a person may continue to believe that someone they love still cares for them, despite all evidence to the contrary. It can be difficult to accept that this cherished belief may be false, after having believed it for so long. Similarly, a person may cling to the idea that a particular sports player is still the best of all time, even though they have been surpassed by others. This is because they have become emotionally attached to the idea of this player's greatness and it can be hard to let go of this belief and accept a new reality.
Many people hold onto false beliefs that support their sacred beliefs in areas such as relationships, religion, success, and self-pride, or any other aspect of belief that is emotionally driven. They become emotionally attached to these beliefs and create sub-beliefs that fit them, rather than allowing their beliefs to fit their supports. This confusion between real and fake logic corrupts their belief structure, making it fail to match reality and guide them through it. Even as adults, people may resist adapting their beliefs to match the world around them because they prefer the security of certainty, even if it means holding onto incorrect beliefs.
To thrive and adapt in the world, we must recognize that our beliefs are not certain and that we must be ready to adapt when new information reveals itself. This does not mean we should do nothing or abandon our beliefs altogether, but rather we should do what we feel is the most probable or best option based on the knowledge we have, while also acknowledging the potential for error. By keeping an open mind and being ready to adapt, we can stay in sync with the world and avoid falling behind.
For instance, let's say someone believes that they can only be successful if they work 80 hours a week and sacrifice their personal life. They hold onto this belief tightly and create sub-beliefs to support it, such as "there's no such thing as work-life balance" or "successful people don't have time for hobbies or relationships." They ignore evidence that contradicts this belief, such as the fact that many successful people prioritize their personal lives and that working excessively can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. As a result, they continue to work excessively and neglect their personal life, which may lead to relationship problems, physical and mental health issues, and ultimately, a less successful future than they could have had if they had a more accurate belief structure that aligned with reality.
Another example of an improper belief structure that can lead to harm is in the realm of business and entrepreneurship. Someone may have a strong belief that their business idea is foolproof and will inevitably lead to success. They become attached to this belief and refuse to recognize any evidence that suggests otherwise. They may invest all of their time and money into this idea, without properly researching the market or adapting to changes in the industry. This belief structure can lead to a false sense of security and a lack of preparedness for potential failures. As a result, they may be blindsided when their business idea fails and may suffer significant financial losses. In this case, an improper belief structure can lead to a misguided sense of confidence that can result in negative consequences.
An example of how an improper belief structure can harm an individual's successful future is in the realm of career advancement. Let's say an individual holds a strong belief that hard work is the only key to success in their field. While hard work is undoubtedly essential, other factors such as networking, communication skills, and emotional intelligence can also play a significant role in career advancement. If this individual fails to acknowledge and work on these other important factors due to their misguided belief, they may not progress as far in their career as they could have. They may also experience frustration and disappointment as their hard work alone doesn't seem to be yielding the desired results. Therefore, having a more well-rounded and accurate belief structure about what it takes to succeed in their particular field can lead to better outcomes and greater job satisfaction.
As you can see, having a proper belief structure is essential to having a successful life. False beliefs can affect us in every aspect of our lives, leading us down the wrong path. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a proper belief system that guides us in making the right decisions in all areas of our lives, helping us achieve success and fulfillment. Gather your knowledge and create sacred beliefs from the non-sacred ones, not the other way around. Be aware that your beliefs may be incorrect but accept them for the time being as the most probable reason and proceed as if they are true. Meanwhile, being prepared to correct them if you learn new knowledge that when accompanied with your current knowledge reveals otherwise. This is the way that you can adapt with the world around you, so that your map is an accurate model of the world and can properly guide you to success and avoid failure. Do not fall into the trap of ignoring your failures while simultaneously remaining ignorant of the solutions, as this will only lead to repeated mistakes and self-inflicted failures in your life.
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Part 3:
In this chapter, we will summarize all the knowledge we have learned so far on how to think like a champion. We will discuss how to identify which beliefs need to be pruned, the process of pruning them, and how to effectively utilize our belief structure to navigate towards success in the world.
To begin, we must understand which beliefs are no longer relevant and need to be pruned from our belief structure, and to do this, we need to recognize what constitutes an outdated belief. We learn the most when we venture into the unknown, whether it's exploring a new place or navigating through uncharted territories in the forest of our minds. Staying within the confines of our familiar belief pyramid restricts our learning potential, this is because we are only venturing into places we have already mapped out and explored. Our pursuit of understanding and growth can only be done by learning new things and venturing into the unknown. This unknown frontier to explore is known as life experience, the accumulation of knowledge and skills gained by facing new situations and overcoming challenges. By doing so, we broaden our understanding of the world and create a more relevant belief structure.
As we go through life, our beliefs expand and become more complex with new experiences, forming a stronger foundation for personal growth. Learning introduces new variables, and because our beliefs are an imperfect reflection of reality, they are continuously reshaped to better align with the world around us. It's akin to a sailor exploring unknown waters, charting the seas as they sail. By doing so, they are better equipped to navigate previously traveled waters with fewer mistakes since they have already been charted, and they can use the skill of how to venture into the unknown and act confidently in uncharted seas. As we encounter new information that challenges or enriches our existing beliefs, we must remain adaptable and adjust our beliefs accordingly. For example, a child may believe their cereal won't spill if they don't spill it themselves, but after observing someone else can spill it, they learn that their cereal isn't necessarily safe. They must now update their belief structure to accompany this new variable, then in the future when they know they won’t spill the cereal, they won’t still hold the belief that their cereal is completely safe and make the same mistake. By remaining open to new experiences and information, we can continuously grow and evolve our understanding of the world.
When an idea needs to be pruned, you will recognize that it is insufficient or entirely incorrect in predicting the world even though it may have been sufficient in the past. This realization comes in the form of confusion, when you become confused, it shows that an idea or preconception you had is not true. It may have been sufficient before, but with the changing world around you, it is no longer accurate. At this point, you need to be ready to abandon the idea and think of a new conclusion that better fits all the new contributing factors combined with the old ones, even though it can be painful to confront your failures. You will know that an idea needs to be pruned when your new supporting beliefs added with your previous ones no longer support the sacred idea as it was the conclusion of all of them together. However, remember that the price of pain is rewarded with a better understanding of the world, and it will help you navigate life more successfully.
It's crucial to distinguish between the supporting beliefs and the sacred belief in your belief structure. The more effort it took to conclude, the more sacred the belief is, and we must support our ideas from the bottom up rather than from the top down. This means using the lower-level and less emotionally attached beliefs to work our way up the pyramid using proper logic, rather than using false logic and starting from the top down. It's vital not to become too attached to any idea and be willing to adapt since the world is always changing. Once you’ve decided not to adapt, you're already doomed to fail in navigating the changing seas of life. If you decide you’re not willing to negotiate the possibility your belief is false, you won't be able to update your belief structure in that area when new information arises, as it always does, since we never fully grasp the complexity of reality, but merely understand a low-resolution image of it. Refusing to adapt will lead to repeating the same mistakes due to the limited belief structure instead of adapting to new problems and preventing them from repeating. Individuals who are no longer willing to negotiate a topic and believe that it is an absolute certainty may find a sense of security in their beliefs. However, this security is merely a façade, it masks the reality that they are chained to their belief structure and unable to properly adapt to the world. As a result, they fail to thrive in adapting and creating a better model of the world for their own well-being and continue to repeat the same mistakes. You should avoid becoming too emotionally attached to an idea that you reject new information and fail to update your belief structure accordingly. It is crucial to adapt to new knowledge and life experience in order to navigate the world with a more accurate understanding.
Having an open mind is often associated with people who want others to agree with their absurd ideas, resulting in many believing that the term "keep an open mind" is synonymous with a mild insanity, it has been overused and devalued to the point where its crucial meaning and significance have been lost. This is a tragedy, as open-mindedness is a crucial factor in adapting and navigating life, never becoming too attached to an idea that you are not willing to rethink when you learn new things in your ongoing journey through life. The mindset of keeping an open mind, entails making the most plausible assumption and proceeding as if it were true, while being mindful that it could potentially be incorrect. It involves embracing the idea that one's best idea or most probable reason may not always be the right one and being receptive to new perspectives and evidence. Confusion is a sign that one of your contributing beliefs to your conclusion is a false belief, as it has failed to properly guide you through life. Sometimes, it may be due to the lack of all contributing factors, or the idea has changed as it always will over time, and one must learn to adapt to it. This is why having an open mind is so important to adapt to the world around you and to properly navigate through life's changing seas.
It is crucial to always maintain an open mind and avoid using a more sacred belief to support a less sacred one, but instead, work from the less sacred beliefs to create a more sacred belief. One should not have a preconceived outcome in mind when building their belief structure. This is equivalent to working from the top of the pyramid down, where supports are created to fit the top, rather than the other way around. Doing so leads to a corrupted belief structure that cannot navigate the future. A belief must be pruned if it no longer suffices in predicting the future or if it causes confusion. Pruning involves no longer holding the belief as true, and instead, using lesser sacred beliefs to build a new, more adequate replacement for the outdated, or no longer sufficient belief.
To best navigate the world to success, you need a deep understanding of your own beliefs and how they impact your thoughts and actions. It's important to recognize that beliefs are not static and can change over time based on new experiences and knowledge gained. By regularly examining your beliefs and challenging them, you can ensure that they are aligned with reality. Then, when faced with complex decisions or challenging situations, your belief structure can serve as a compass, guiding you towards the best course of action. It's important to consider all information to ensure that your beliefs are well-rounded and match reality the most accurately. By using your belief structure in a flexible and thoughtful manner, you can navigate the world with confidence and achieve success.
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Part 2:
Continuing from the previous chapter, we discussed the tendency to avoid anxiety and stress by ignoring that one's model of the world is incorrect. But how can someone ignore something so obvious? Unfortunately, not only can people do this, but they often do so in a way that is masked as logical. When an idea is created and deemed to be true, it becomes a brick in a pyramid of beliefs. Each subsequent brick, built upon the foundation of the previous one, is considered more sacred than its predecessor. The construction of each brick not only involves founding itself but also incorporating every brick that supports it, making it a more arduous task than the one before it, and thus more sacred. When someone wants to avoid acknowledging that a sacred belief is incorrect, they use false logic by claiming the sacred belief is known to be true, and therefore all other ideas must conform to support it as true. They don’t realize if a sacred belief were true, its supports would naturally reinforce it, as a belief is a sacred belief because it is the result of many beliefs that are supporting it. But if it lacks support, then it’s an unsupported belief and shouldn’t be reinforced. Therefore, not only is the sacred belief false, but all the ideas conformed to support it are now corrupt with the false conclusion that the sacred belief is true. You should never use a concluded belief to prove its own supports, as this would just be a false cyclical support structure where the structure supports itself and nothing is supported with a foundation.
This happens often when people form ideas that they consider to be the concrete conclusion of reality, as they gain more life experience and knowledge, they create a clearer and more accurate model of the world. The supporters that once upheld a sacred belief may no longer do so because they now uphold a new, more accurate understanding of reality, which should become their new sacred belief. Regardless, many people remain attached to their original belief and continue to claim it as true because it was once their sacred belief, and they tried to conform all other ideas to support it. They fail to recognize that their understanding of the world was less accurate in the past, and that an idea no longer being supported by their understanding of reality means that their understanding has improved. This improved understanding is trying to guide them towards a more accurate answer, which they are failing to recognize as a result of their emotional attachment to their previous conclusion.
This is a person's final attempt to hold onto their sacred belief. Refusing to let go of a false belief and instead using false logic to support it leads to the addition of more false beliefs into one's mind, further distancing their understanding of the world from reality. These unsupported false beliefs are like bricks in a pyramid that are floating with nothing to hold them up. By hoping that false logic will work, one hopes that the sacred brick above will support the brick below. But when they try and use this model to understand the real world, gravity will show them how dreadfully mistaken they are, and it will be done in such a way that their model is not able to guide them to a better future, and instead they will be led to failure of making the best decisions for their wellbeing.
Many people use the excuse that the world is too complex to understand fully, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't work towards it. Although we will never understand everything about the world, that didn't stop us from learning to walk, ride a bike, or buy a home. People tend to stay in their pyramid of concrete beliefs and miss the bigger picture. However, just because we don't have a concrete understanding doesn't mean we can't have an abstract understanding and navigate through life. Art was not concretely understood for a long time, but that didn't stop people from creating masterpieces because they had an abstract sense of it. Nowadays, we have a concrete understanding of music with scientific measurements, this is a solid example of how concrete understanding always follows abstract understanding.
It’s important to know that having a concrete understanding of everything is not necessary for success, just as people were able to design and create new masterpieces even before people had a concrete understanding of music. While it is true that concrete understanding is better than abstract understanding, having an abstract sense is often good enough. For example, people successfully drive cars every day without knowing how they work in detail, and they use tools and objects every day without understanding the chemical composition of the materials or their atomic structures. You don't need to fully understand the world to live successfully, but you do need to adapt to the world and face new challenges. It's important to learn from your failures, by recognizing how you failed and striving to have a clearer understanding in the future, one can live a more successful life.
Although abstract understanding can be useful, it is still important to have a concrete belief structure as a sort of home base, a place of order amidst chaos, a place to retreat from the unknown. However, this does not mean that you need the entire world to be your home. If you have a concrete understanding of the entire world, you will have nothing left to learn or experience. You will no longer have any anxiety, worry, or sense of adventure. There will be no more ecstasy from achievement, no more thrills, no more emotional pain, no more fear, worry, excitement, or surprise. Converting the whole forest into your concrete belief system would signify the culmination of your mind's development and primary objective, ultimately resulting in the end of your progressive life. Beyond that moment, you would simply exist without any motivation or direction to pursue understanding. It is like a necessary evil intent for there to be good intent. You cannot have a hero without a villain. Similarly, without a problem to solve, you cannot become a victorious problem solver. A person who lacks the drive to pursue anything just exists, with no significance or direction, and worst of all they know it, with no meaning or direction. Rather than giving up because they realize they’ll never reach the end of understanding, they should be thrilled with joy that they will never be held back from being a victorious achiever, and that there will always be new problems to conquer.
People who believe that there's no point in trying to understand the world because they can never fully comprehend it don't realize that concrete understanding is built on top of abstract understanding, just as a concrete pyramid is built within a forest. The line between abstraction and concrete understanding is not clear-cut because some concrete beliefs are formed by combining both concrete and abstract ideas. It's like a jungle growing on the sides of a concrete pyramid, with vines at different heights, thicknesses, and levels, but none of them reaching the top. Every time you get a firmer grasp of an abstract idea you create a new concrete belief similarly pushing the vines back further and further from the top of your concrete beliefs.
The key to take away from this is to distinguish between true logic and false logic. Are you using a sacred idea to support itself with no structure, or are you truly supporting it with sound reasoning? You must also recognize the cost and benefit of acknowledging one’s failure along with its solution, or remaining ignorant of it along with its solution, therefore repeating the same mistakes. Adapting to an ever-changing environment requires letting go of old ideas that are no longer sufficient for navigating the always changing future.
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Part 1:
How do we form beliefs, what is a belief structure, and how can we use it to successfully navigate the world? These are the questions we will be facing. To begin, it is crucial to understand the fundamentals for the development of the human brain. This chapter will explain the metaphysical development of an infant’s mind, the progression from building its first belief to creating its holy grail of values. It will explain emotional pain, why some things are more emotionally sensitive than others, and why they exist. By comparing the mental development of infants to that of adults, we can determine the path we need to take in order to achieve a highly developed mind, one that can adapt to the world more efficiently and effectively. Having a clear understanding of your starting point and your current position is crucial. Without this knowledge, it is difficult to determine the direction in which you should head to achieve success. In order to be successful, it is important to set a target for yourself, even if it is unattainable. The act of striving towards this target is what defines progress, and without it, you may find yourself wandering aimlessly.
This is a hypothetical story about an infant's belief structure development. At birth, the infant's world is unknown, with everything around it appearing as colors and sounds. It lacks knowledge about physical objects and spatial awareness. The infant's primary goal is to experience good emotions and avoid bad ones. However, it frequently cries in frustration, worry, and pain as it experiences the non-ideal reality surrounding it. The infant unconsciously realizes that the only way to suppress anxiety is to not be shocked or surprised by the world around it. Its brain recognizes that surprising or unexpected events cause shock and anxiety. The infant's primary goal is to minimize stressful anxiety from the world around it by understanding the world in such a way that it is no longer shocked or surprised. This anxiety function drives the brain to search for answers and solutions to the world, resulting in avoiding anxiety and confusion while also being rewarded for understanding through the thrill of achievement in understanding. For instance, when the infant learns to walk or eventually ride a bike, it experiences the sheer ecstasy of its new greatest achievement.
The child continues to learn how cause and effect work, using this knowledge to achieve desired outcomes and further avoiding anxiety. Its primary goal is to minimize emotional pain and bring happiness. At an early age, it learns deductive reasoning and incorporates multiple beliefs to form new beliefs without experiencing them firsthand. It enjoys admiring its own preconceptions by repeatedly testing cause and effect. Just as an infant pours out a cup of water knowing that the cup will spill and assuming it’s not trying to get your attention, it’s merely attempting to recreate what it believes will happen and admires the results and will do it repeatedly just out of the enjoyment of admiring its own successful prediction of the outcome. As it gains more understanding, it moves further away from anxiety and more towards achievement. However, the world is constantly changing, and new experiences bring new anxiety and challenges that must be overcome.
At this stage, the infant has constructed an intricate belief structure to comprehend the world. The structure resembles a pyramid, with each solid block representing a definitive idea. Through processing the abstract nature of the reality that surrounds it, the infant forms new concrete ideas. It's similar to constructing a pyramid out of bricks within an unknown forest that is an ever-changing and growing environment. Just as in life, we initially understand the world abstractly before we bring it into a concrete reality, just as we get the gist of a game before we learn the definitive rules. As an infant in the forest of reality, we build our own temple of wisdom by growing and developing our pyramid of beliefs. By contemplating and comprehending more, and discovering ideas that are supported by our existing foundational beliefs, we can add to the height of our pyramid. Similarly, by gaining more experience and foundational knowledge, we can expand the base of the pyramid and ensure it stands even taller than before.
At the top of an individual's value structure lies the pinnacle of the pyramid, representing their most treasured and significant idea or belief. This sacred concept remains of utmost importance and holds the person's greatest passion and conviction, no matter how many other beliefs they accumulate. When a person acquires a new idea or belief that becomes their most valued concept, everything else in their value structure will shift downwards to a lower position, and the top position will be taken by the new most valued idea. This pattern is applicable to everyone, regardless of age or circumstance, as exemplified by the way a child values their balloon and as adult values their wallet with the same level of importance in their respective value structures. The journey of life, from the first steps to milestones like buying a home, is accompanied by new challenges and anxiety, leading to a continuous pursuit of goals, and understanding. But the apex of the pyramid is unique because it represents the individual's ultimate understanding of the abstract world. It requires the most effort, time, and bricks to construct, making it an emotionally significant achievement. The individual is attached to it because it symbolizes all of their previous accomplishments and thinking, and to discover a false belief within their structure would cause immense emotional pain. The further down the pyramid, the less emotional attachment they possess, as these beliefs required less effort pondering to understand and support. However, if a person's most valued belief is proven to be false, it necessitates a complete reassessment of all their past accomplishments and ways of thinking. This process is important for learning and adapting to new information, as it motivates the brain to seek out a more accurate understanding of reality. Essentially, the discomfort caused by a false belief can be seen as a signal to the brain that it needs to reevaluate its assumptions and seek out more accurate information.
This is the brain's penalty function, the price of failing to understand the world correctly includes confusion, anxiety, and emotional pain. If one's cherished belief turns out to be false, there are two options, endure the pain of recognizing one’s errors, or avoid it. Both options have a price and reward. The first option requires bearing the pain and recognizing the errors, and taking the time to rethink one's life. The reward is that one learns from the failure and aligns their understanding with the world, creating a new, more accurate model. The second option is to avoid the pain and suffering by remaining ignorant of the failures, but simultaneously you remain ignorant of the solution, and you will repeat the mistake going forward. This leads to a false understanding of the world that does not match reality, which signals the failure to thrive by adapting. Infants thrive by properly modeling their beliefs to match the world around them, and failure to do so leads to a false structure that will ultimately fail at guiding one toward a better future.
In summary, the development of an infant's mind from birth to forming its belief structure is a continuous journey of minimizing emotional pain and maximizing joy of achievement. Deductive reasoning, with cause-and-effect, plays a significant role in constructing the belief structure. The belief structure resembles a pyramid, with the pinnacle representing the individual's most sacred and emotionally significant belief. False beliefs trigger a penalty function in the brain, causing emotional pain and motivating the brain to seek a more accurate understanding of reality. The options are either to recognize your error, along with its solution, or to remain ignorant of the error, along with the solution, leading to repetition of the same mistakes. Ultimately, the progression of the mind by adapting to the world is success, as you progress past each checkpoint towards understanding.
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Please respect this forum's guidelines as they are meant to cultivate a more productive debate environment:
When you have a question, end it with a "?".
When you have a dispute, quote the individual's text, and clearly explain how.
When you don't understand but want to, ask me to elaborate.
I would really appreciate it if everyone's posts were pertaining to the forum topic of developing an evolutionary mindset.
To prevent misunderstandings and unnecessary arguments, please make an effort to use clear and specific language that is less likely to be misinterpreted.
Additionally, it can be helpful to ask someone to clarify if their response seems illogical. This allows them to acknowledge any errors and provide a better explanation.
I believe that it is important to approach this debate with an open mind, to recognize biases and facts, and to engage in calm and rational thinking. It is also important to resist the temptation to only believe what we want, and to be willing to consider and explore ideas that may challenge our existing beliefs. Ultimately, the goal is to engage in a respectful and productive debate that contributes to our collective understanding of the world.
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@Mps1213
I am interested in learning more about psychedelics and hallucinogens such as psilocybin and LSD. I have heard many fascinating stories about these drugs, but they often seem to be explained in a spiritual or mystical way. There have been numerous experiments conducted with these substances, some of which I find hard to believe, while others seem to require further scientific investigation and understanding.
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@Lemming
I am curious on your thoughts on human slaves?
This is a broad question, so I'll give a general answer. I assume you're asking about the morality of a particular issue. While my answer would be that it's not moral, have you ever wondered that is generally accepted? It's because society has instilled this belief in us, in order to emotionally prevent people from breaking the law. Although this doesn't always work, it does most of the time. Ultimately, we come to realize that morality is a societal agreement, just like language is. If society didn't agree on the meaning of a word, it wouldn't have a meaning. Similarly, if society didn't agree on a moral standard, it wouldn't exist. I'm currently debating with YouFound_Lxam about whether morals are objective or subjective. You can find my argument for moral relativism there.
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@Lemming
@b9_ntt
@ebuc
@FLRW
Those definitions are ambiguous and subject to interpretation:
The ambiguity in the definitions of consciousness and aware in the Concise OED, 10th Ed. arises from the use of terms like "the state of being conscious," "fact of awareness," and "perception." These definitions don't provide a clear and precise explanation of what consciousness or awareness really means, and leave room for interpretation. Similarly, in the definition of mind in the Concise OED, 10th Ed., there is ambiguity in the use of terms like "faculty," "source," "intellectual faculties," which could be interpreted in various ways. In the definition of mind in Webster's College, 4th Ed., the ambiguity arises from the use of terms like "that which thinks, perceives, feels, wills, etc.," which again leaves room for interpretation. Overall, these definitions lack specificity and precision, making it difficult to form a complete and clear understanding of the concepts of consciousness, awareness, and mindfulness.
Remember my quote:
It is important to recognize that words in a language hold no inherent meaning, but rather are patterns of phonetics and symbols that have been mutually agreed upon by individuals to represent certain metaphysical concepts.
If a word is ambiguous and subject to interpretation, it will not have widespread agreement, resulting in a lack of meaning. This is because words derive meaning from mutual agreement, and without such agreement, the word loses its meaning. At best, the word consciousness can be considered a general idea rather than a precise one. Therefore, it is difficult to make accurate claims based on it. It is like trying to draw a solid conclusion from a soft and unstable foundation, which is impossible.
In essence, words can have varying degrees of ambiguity and precision, each with their own advantages and drawbacks. Ambiguous words can be more applicable to a wide range of scenarios but can also lead to misinterpretation. Precise words, on the other hand, have a clear definition but are limited in their applicability to specific circumstances. The word "consciousness" is an example of a term with a generalized idea that lacks precision but is applicable to a broader context. While this is useful when discussing human consciousness, it becomes problematic when attempting to define it precisely or draw conclusions about its existence in other beings. Instead, a more precise term should be used to address nuanced questions such as the number and extent of aspects of awareness.
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