The Shortcoming Of Absolutes

Each thought must carry with it only one of many perspectives. As such, a single perspective by its very nature implies limitation. Which means any given perspective and its associated thoughts can not be absolutely true. 

For example, one might suggest the absolute truth of the sun "rising and setting" every day. But this statement is not absolutely true. Surely an observer on a planet three million star systems away would not agree, let alone an observer merely three star systems away. It is relatively true based on the perspective of one who happens to reside on an arbitrarily named planet known as “Earth” in an arbitrarily named galaxy known as “The Milky Way”. Certainly our truth of the sun "rising and setting" every day is not false, but then neither is it absolutely true. Any other interplanetary observers might experience a daily "rising and setting" of a nearby star but certainly not our star.

I thoughtfully quoted "rising and setting" to make a most important distinction. This expression is merely metaphoric as the sun neither rises nor sets in a literal and hence absolute manner. It is but an illusion created by the Earth's rotation.

Yet another distinction to point out is that technically even this metaphoric "rising and setting" every day is problematic. What about observers on the Earth’s poles during the height of their summer and winter months? Their sun either "stays" risen or "stays" set, this of course being the same sun all of us more tropical types observe. At this point, even the absolute truth of the metaphor is lost.

Another critical distinction to make is that there is nothing absolutely true or real about a day. It is just a relative construct. Presumably, no other planet rotates around itself in the same amount of time. Additionally, the earth's rotational speed is slowing down which means the amount of time it takes to rotate around itself is NOT absolute! It's actually increasing every day! Imperceptibly, to us at least.

In summary, our perception of the sun "rising and setting" every day (this itself a metaphor which cannot hold absolutely true even for Earth's inhabitants) is certainly not false but then neither is it absolutely true. Such is the case with most claims of “absolute” truth.

I will admit, it seems absurd to see things as absolute. Then again, it seems equally absurd to see things as relative. There seems to be an irreconcilable paradox with the absolute/relative dichotomy*.

Many will be annoyed by my "nitpicking" of details. Most overlook or discount them out of the mistaken belief that they are frivolous. However, they are absolutely (a self-professed contradiction, but only for effect) pertinent to any reasonable argument. Any conclusion based on the false notion that variables are necessarily absolute misleads people into believing they can account for all truth with their individual perspectives.

I will end with one of my favorite Kurtisms: do not overlook the profound wisdom of scrutinizing trivial things as this becomes a stepping stone to critically evaluating far bigger things.


*see link that follows for clarification

http://kurtsthoughtemporium.blogspot.com/2009/08/duality-of-relativismabsolutism.html

I Love Patterns

As pattern seekers, it totally makes sense that different people groups faced with unique challenges saw/see convincing patterns suggesting our existence was “created” to be a certain way.....

1) people that suffered severe drought, they (would) have their rain god/goddess or several?
2) people that struggled with fertility issues (would) have their fertility god/goddess or several?

Much like Burger King‘s old mantra, “Have It Your Way!” well, have it YOUR way too! I’m sure somebody has already thought up of a god/goddess or several for whatever righteous cause? If not, just make one(s) up? Hmmm?????

Just wish people didn’t believe in vindictive gods for whatever nefarious reason(s)?

But, like I’ve said many times before, it’s likely that pesky EGO!

Why Am I Here? Why Are You Here? Why Is Anybody Here?

I think it was Jean Paul Sartre who once asked this? (Chevy Chase from "Spies Like Us".)

There seems to be an assumption that everything "there" is "there" for GOD. Why? For me? You? Her? Them?

I get it.....it makes us feel important?

It also very well substantiates deep-seated beliefs with which we've been indoctrinated.

Even I believe the universe was made by something "other" than us?

But indulge me slightly.....

What if GOD were simply the confluence of unguided forces of nature, known and UNKNOWN to us?

How can anybody not throw up their arms and concede uncertainty?

A Dose of Introspection

I'm going through a rather tumultuous period in my life. Not the bad kind, no, the good.

My humble abode is a whopping 1,335 square feet with basic necessities like AC and heat, a stable roof (I think?), clean running water, etc. Not bad if you live in a 3rd world society? But just slightly better than mediocre in "our" society.

So I'm in the process of "cleaning house" to make way for major renovations. As I am reluctant to making decisions, what do I do with all the books I've accumulated over 47 years of living?

The first thing that occurred to me is that, Kurt, you must keep some of them! After all, are not the books on your shelf basically a window into you?

Yes, but books occupy space and collect lots of dust.....

If I want to reveal to somebody who I am, well, I'll just talk to them?

Nothing Worthwhile Should Be Easy

Imagine technology allowed for any idiot to fly a commercial jet just by pressing a button to summon a robot to land the 200 ton object? Or an imbecile replacing a human heart just by pressing a button to summon a drone surgeon? (Think Mike Judge's brilliant movie, Idiocracy).

This seems to be where we're headed? Everybody is equal, right?

No, everybody is NOT equal and entitled to the same privilege as others.....

People that work harder than others, and, God bless'em, those that got the "right" genes should prosper.

The others that just don't have "smarts" because mom and dad handed down to them rotten genes have no right to claim any bounty that others justifiably deserve!

What this implies about God, I don't know?

LIFE IS UNFAIR, GET OVER IT!

Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers

July 10, 2019.....top end of the Perimeter Highway, I-285, Atlanta. Apparently either a back door failed and/or an employee failed to latch it correctly?

Cash started pouring out the back door of the money truck on one of ATL's busiest roadways. When I say money, I'm talking to the tune of $200,000. People stopped, went into nearby woods where much of it landed, and started claiming their "unearned" bounty.

Being philosophical, I'm not going into some BULLSHIT diatribe about how dishonest many of us are.

No, the first thing that came to my mind are some introspective questions.....

1) If "I" could get away with taking something that wasn't mine and "I" REALLY wanted it and/or could use it without any repercussions, would I? I don't know? I believe, or at least really WANT to believe that I would do the right thing.....return it. After all, it's not mine!

2) Why does my conscience (FYI I'm an atheist) compel me to do things against my carnal wishes? It's 2019, and EVERYTHING is being watched! So for those that grabbed some of that bounty, you WILL be caught!

3) I remember a time when I took $50 of cash out of an ATM and got $60. Did it again for $30, got $40. And again. Apparently the "money person" fucked up. Must've put $20s in the $10 slot? Mistakes happen. The first thing I thought before claiming my $30 bounty was, "that guy or girl is probably going to lose his or her job over this"? I fuck up all the time, it's part of learning?

My overarching point is this: do I "tend" to do things honestly because I'm sincerely honest, or because I fear somebody is watching me? God? Cameras? (today)

I DON'T KNOW?

What's In The Box?

          PART I - The Box

How big is it? What color? Does it emit any information about itself?

It's a white box the size of a baseball, so we're told. But this little white box reveals nothing about itself. It's obscure, nobody can get near it, it doesn't emit any noticeable smell, it doesn't cater to any of our senses, it doesn't use Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat to communicate, etc. Nonetheless, many conjecture as to its contents, mostly from the whims of illiterate people from bygone eras.

Christians are certain this little white box contains a red baseball with Jesus Christ's autograph. Muslims are just as sure, perhaps even more, that this same box contains a blue one with Muhammad's autograph. Both are built on the Old Testament tradition, but distinct nonetheless. One is red, the other blue, each emblazoned with a different signature. Clearly they can't coexist because that would violate the Law of Non-Contradiction, right? But at least they're both balls? Why or how could the 2 most dominant religions on Earth, comprising more than 50% of us, believe something so similar, yet so distinct?

Just as we can create a long list of items that could not possibly be contained in this little white box, we can also create an endless list of items that COULD.

Hopefully we can all agree this little white box can't possibly fit the Milky Way Galaxy.....there's just not enough room? Nonsensical objects are eliminated too, say, something ridiculous like a deck of cards made of anger?

On the other hand, it's not inconceivable that this little white box COULD harbor either of the 2 baseballs previously mentioned. But how do Christians and Muslims know? They don't. Belief and faith can only ever attempt to fill this gap of knowledge.....it's a placeholder. Perhaps forever?

Think about man before he knew a thing about meteorology. Surely there had to be a God (or Gods) controlling the weather, so he made one(s) up to explain floods and droughts. Why? Because he had to "know" God. Why did he have to "know" God? Because he sought a place of comfort and control, without which he would not possess. Behold, faith and belief!

Analogize what believers of different faiths claim this little white box to contain. Any number of small, novel objects could conceivably fit. A scoop of vanilla ice cream? A ball of twine? A piece of dog shit? 17 rose petals? 4 ounces of Klingon vomit? Nobody KNOWS what's in the box! As I've alluded to previously, one can only ever be sure at to what's NOT in the box. Any guess as to what's actually in it is akin to the Wild West.....

But Kurt, what do you believe to be in it? Why does it matter what I believe to be in this little white box? Whatever's in the box is in the box. Perhaps it's not little? Or white? Or even a box at all?

I HAVE NO EARTHLY IDEA! I simply concede uncertainty. I'm fine with that. What about you?



          PART II - Agnosticism?

Will a self-professed atheist ever be elected POTUS? I don't know, but it doesn't seem likely these days?

A tantalizing question for sure, meant to reinforce the fact that atheism in the U.S. today gets a really bad rap. This should not be the case.

To me, there are 2 fundamental types of atheism: the strong and the weak.

The strong atheist absolutely knows God doesn't exist, much like the religious zealot who just knows he is right and anybody else that might believe in a competing God is "buying into a lie", something or other. The strong atheist is arrogant and obnoxious just like the religious maven. Both seem to permeate today's hyper-polarized society?

The weak atheist like myself simply lacks belief to a question in which nobody can even in principle answer yet or perhaps ever.....is there a God?

The only tenable response to this question should be, "I DON'T KNOW"? For those that call themselves agnostic, as if this were some middle ground between strong atheism and religious zeal, they are essentially weak atheists like me. Their beliefs just don't afford them the luxury of claiming a specific God entity exists. It would out of necessity, at times at least, threaten their intellectual credibility. Who among us wants to come across as an imbecile?

People have the privilege to believe and have faith in whatever they so choose......Santa Claus, flying reindeer, magic elves, the Tooth Fairy, the invisible midget that turns on the refrigerator light when one opens it, Alex Jones' crazy conspiracy theories, any number of Gods, etc.

Agnosticism simply means lack of knowledge.....belief and faith step in as proxies for this lack of knowledge. Ergo, EVERYBODY is agnostic concerning the existence of God.


           PART III - Morality?

Morality is a complicated topic, as both lovers and haters of Friedrich Nitezsche will likely agree.

One of the most profound adages ever uttered by a clear thinking being, homo-sapien or not, is that, though atheism doesn't systematically lead to moral behavior, neither does it lead to immoral behavior.

In this sense, though atheism does not guide us on how to behave well, neither does it guide us to be assholes?

Morality is up to us!

As a weak atheist, I believe being nice to others generally lends itself to others being nice to me. Challenge me if you disagree?

Evolution seems to have instilled in us, if you will, a social contract to play nice "in the sandbox" with others. Imagine if I was an asshole and you were too? Let's say we both stole from each other? How would this moral system work?

With the exception of gypsies and other numerous con-artists, collectively as a social society, it seems incumbent on us to live by the creed, "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours!" Or as the golden rule more or less implies, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

Hence why this proverbial social contract works......without belief in OR EVEN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD?
            
I hope I've whittled away the stigma of atheism to at least a few. I've tried my best.