| The Unknowns & Unknowables |
We have heard about Occam’s Razor, the Law of Parsimony, and KISS (Keep It Simple,
Sherlock). If only life would lend itself to simplicity or linear cause-and-effect
relationships. You are learning in your psychology courses to think critically and avoid
wasting your time on nonfalsifiable phenomena. The problem is that there have always
been phenomena that fall between-the-cracks of common experience, logic, or reason.
We are admonished to leave such things alone and frequently told that they cannot be
real. We trust our mentors and admire their intelligence and accomplishments. They
invariably have answers to our queries and make us conclude that our questions or
concerns lack validity, merit, or show how naive and gullible we are.
Your professor must confess that he has doubts when a door is slammed shut, sealed,
and barricaded. Isn’t it possible that at least some of these “known-to-be-false”
phenomena that really have never been formerly proven or disproven afford unethical
persons with all the "wiggle-room" they need to act in ways most of us would never dare
imagine. This "wiggle-room" is often protected by “reasonable doubt.” A more nefarious
possibility must be considered. This “space” remains concealed from public scrutiny for
reasons of “national security.” Is it really logical or do we really want to blindly trust and
accept secrecy that protects our nation’s interests, but is at the heart of it inherently
harmful to all of mankind and serves the interests of a few?
It seems to your professor that all living things on this planet, that is, humans, animals,
plants, and other impossible-to-categorize living things belong to something much greater
than any, single self-proclaimed sovereign entity or national interest.
On this webpage, “Probably Not for the Rational Thinker,” Your professor is venturing into
some areas that are unknown and perhaps, unknowable, at this time. It is your professor’
s hope to find a way to responsibly put forth some issues he has encountered during his
life. Your professor makes no claims about being an expert on any of these things nor is
he the first person to have thought or written about them. Furthermore, the fact that
certain things are mentioned should not be construed to mean they are wholly or even
partially true. Nor are any statements "the last word." In addition, your professor does
not mean to imply that skeptical thinkers are the “bad guys” or part of a hidden conspiracy
to usurp control over the entire planet. However, anything is possible. Reasonable
individuals will hold different opinions and, hopefully, can still honor and respect those who
may not agree with them. Dialectical exchanges must be tolerated and never forbidden.
One of your professors dreams would be that common people are allowed to be exposed
“to the facts.” The very idea of an “enlightened despotism” who must retain the authority to
conceal certain things and be trusted to make decisions that are best for all is extremely
dangerous and foolhardy.
Sherlock). If only life would lend itself to simplicity or linear cause-and-effect
relationships. You are learning in your psychology courses to think critically and avoid
wasting your time on nonfalsifiable phenomena. The problem is that there have always
been phenomena that fall between-the-cracks of common experience, logic, or reason.
We are admonished to leave such things alone and frequently told that they cannot be
real. We trust our mentors and admire their intelligence and accomplishments. They
invariably have answers to our queries and make us conclude that our questions or
concerns lack validity, merit, or show how naive and gullible we are.
Your professor must confess that he has doubts when a door is slammed shut, sealed,
and barricaded. Isn’t it possible that at least some of these “known-to-be-false”
phenomena that really have never been formerly proven or disproven afford unethical
persons with all the "wiggle-room" they need to act in ways most of us would never dare
imagine. This "wiggle-room" is often protected by “reasonable doubt.” A more nefarious
possibility must be considered. This “space” remains concealed from public scrutiny for
reasons of “national security.” Is it really logical or do we really want to blindly trust and
accept secrecy that protects our nation’s interests, but is at the heart of it inherently
harmful to all of mankind and serves the interests of a few?
It seems to your professor that all living things on this planet, that is, humans, animals,
plants, and other impossible-to-categorize living things belong to something much greater
than any, single self-proclaimed sovereign entity or national interest.
On this webpage, “Probably Not for the Rational Thinker,” Your professor is venturing into
some areas that are unknown and perhaps, unknowable, at this time. It is your professor’
s hope to find a way to responsibly put forth some issues he has encountered during his
life. Your professor makes no claims about being an expert on any of these things nor is
he the first person to have thought or written about them. Furthermore, the fact that
certain things are mentioned should not be construed to mean they are wholly or even
partially true. Nor are any statements "the last word." In addition, your professor does
not mean to imply that skeptical thinkers are the “bad guys” or part of a hidden conspiracy
to usurp control over the entire planet. However, anything is possible. Reasonable
individuals will hold different opinions and, hopefully, can still honor and respect those who
may not agree with them. Dialectical exchanges must be tolerated and never forbidden.
One of your professors dreams would be that common people are allowed to be exposed
“to the facts.” The very idea of an “enlightened despotism” who must retain the authority to
conceal certain things and be trusted to make decisions that are best for all is extremely
dangerous and foolhardy.
Readers of these webpages are strongly encouraged to keep open
minds, but as the saying goes, do not open your minds so much that
your brains fall out. Chester : )
minds, but as the saying goes, do not open your minds so much that
your brains fall out. Chester : )
By and large, language is a
tool for concealing the
truth. George Carlin
tool for concealing the
truth. George Carlin
Fighting for peace is
like screwing for
virginity. George Carlin
like screwing for
virginity. George Carlin
I have as much authority
as the Pope, I just don't
have as many people
who believe it.
George Carlin
as the Pope, I just don't
have as many people
who believe it.
George Carlin
If you hear hoof beats, think of horses,
NOT zebras.
NOT zebras.
| No matter how cynical you become, it's never enough to keep up. Lily Tomlin |
| What you do not know or cannot see, will not hurt you, right? |
Why can't everybody just
get along? Rodney King
get along? Rodney King
It is likely that unlikely things should happen.
Aristotle
There is no safety for honest men except by
believing all possible evil of evil men.
Edmund Burke
believing all possible evil of evil men.
Edmund Burke
| Who tells the truth is chased out of nine villages. Turkish Proverb |
Reports that say that something
hasn't happened are always
interesting to me, because as we
know, there are known knowns;
there are things we know we know.
We also know that there are
known unknowns; that is to say we
know there are some things we do
not know. But there are also
unknown unknowns - the ones we
don't know we don't know." Donald
Rumsfeld (Chester's comment, "of
all people, the former Secretary of
Defense would know!")
hasn't happened are always
interesting to me, because as we
know, there are known knowns;
there are things we know we know.
We also know that there are
known unknowns; that is to say we
know there are some things we do
not know. But there are also
unknown unknowns - the ones we
don't know we don't know." Donald
Rumsfeld (Chester's comment, "of
all people, the former Secretary of
Defense would know!")
Remove yourself
from "the box" every
once-in-a-while and
allow yourself the
freedom to THINK
from "the box" every
once-in-a-while and
allow yourself the
freedom to THINK
It is good to have friends you can
talk to who will listen to, give
honest feedback, and won't make
too much fun of your ideas.
talk to who will listen to, give
honest feedback, and won't make
too much fun of your ideas.
"Scientific societies are as yet in their
infancy. . . . It is to be expected that
advances in physiology and psychology
will give governments much more control
over individual mentality than they now
have even in totalitarian countries. Fitche
laid it down that education should aim at
destroying free will, so that, after pupils
have left school, they shall be incapable,
throughout the rest of their lives, of
thinking or acting otherwise than as their
schoolmasters would have wished. . . ":
Bertrand Russell, "The Impact of Science
on Society", 1953, pg 49-50
=
"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in
chains." : Jean-Jacques Rousseau -
(1712-1778) Political philosopher,
educationist and essayist -Source: The
Social Contract
infancy. . . . It is to be expected that
advances in physiology and psychology
will give governments much more control
over individual mentality than they now
have even in totalitarian countries. Fitche
laid it down that education should aim at
destroying free will, so that, after pupils
have left school, they shall be incapable,
throughout the rest of their lives, of
thinking or acting otherwise than as their
schoolmasters would have wished. . . ":
Bertrand Russell, "The Impact of Science
on Society", 1953, pg 49-50
=
"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in
chains." : Jean-Jacques Rousseau -
(1712-1778) Political philosopher,
educationist and essayist -Source: The
Social Contract
