hopelesshappiness.com

From the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy:

"Classical Foundationalism holds that there are two kinds of belief: basic beliefs and non-basic beliefs. The basic beliefs are rational even when not held on the basis of other beliefs, whereas non-basic beliefs are only rational when supported by basic beliefs."

"According to the classical foundationalist, the only beliefs that are properly basic fall into one of the three following categories:

1. evident to the senses,
2. incorrigible, or
3. self evident."

Each individual may perceive sensory input differently, but for the most part there is less disagreement and/or more understanding within this ('evident to the senses') classification of basic beliefs.

From dictionary.com:

"Incorrigible: firmly fixed; not easily changed, swayed, or influenced."

"Self Evident: Evident in itself without proof or demonstration."

For some beliefs there is widespread agreement as to its self evident nature and incorrigibility; but for other beliefs there is widespread disagreement on its identification as basic or non-basic. Widespread disagreement comes about when each individual formulates a personal concept of self-evident based on their framework of reference, and each individual chooses his or her evidence in order to build and strengthen a personal foundation of basic beliefs, from which rationality is then constructed. (A common example of this 'widespread disagreement' process is our varying beliefs surrounding God and religion.) As this construct is built and varyingly reinforced, in many cases it becomes very difficult to argue that it is not built on a foundation of basic beliefs. I believe one's personal foundation should be impressionable, but not submissive or compliant. I believe a majority of personal foundations are unyielding and incorrigible, and a large majority are unyielding and incorrigible and/or submissive and compliant. When faced with another's rigid foundation, if my personal foundation is in opposition, argument, (no matter how logically constructed from my foundation), will likely prove futile. So I must begin by understanding 1) the unassailability of their position, and 2) that rational arguments from their position will likely be perceived as irrational when seen from my foundation (and vice versa). I must then assess their irrational / rational arguments and search for more agreeable creative alternatives. Some may call this compromise. In a disagreement, I have frequently encouraged seeking common ground. I suppose common ground may be interpreted as a form of compromise, but I do not believe that compromise will always lead to a common ground. If I follow the process above and find an agreeable alternative that they interpret as rationally consistent with their foundation, before compromising my principles, I must determine if it is also rationally consistent with my foundation. To do this I must poke around and between the edges of both foundations to possibly unearth some common ground. By poking around the edges of his or her foundation, I may also draw them out, and may even enlist their aid.

If, on the first pass, the disagreement appears to be unresolvable, and the other individual remains ensconced and girded smack dab in the middle of their incorrigible position, I keep digging and poking until I come to a backbreaking point where the disagreement remains unresolvable...

Which brings me back to, "How does one argue against incorrigible basic belief?"

Given propitious recourse, one could use force or power; i.e. wage battle. If successful though, the resolution could possibly be short term; only until one's opponent is able to amass their own resources and continue the cycle. Additionally, a battle may persuade (or force) actions, but an argument is meant to persuade thoughts and views, leaving one to then determine their own actions. The argument is preferable.

Perhaps some misdirection? If I pick a different argument where there is a greater likelihood of common ground, perhaps the distraction would at the least maintain status quo. Though if I am the one working to initiate a change, this plan may likely defeat that purpose. And again, misdirection is likely a short term solution.

It was Max Planck who said, "A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it." I believe this to extend beyond the scientific and also be applicable to (too) many new truths of varying credentials. So I suppose that waiting for the other individual's descendants to evolve and come around to see the wisdom of common ground... No. That will not help in the current circumstance.

((BRIEF INTERLUDE: There will be a  day, (though I likely will not live to see it), when coffee shop etiquette evolves to exclude LOUD, monopolistic laughter and conversation. My typical experience is that a fairly large majority understand the necessity of quiet conversation, and it is seldom a problem. But today, it is a problem. ...Despite the fact that these two ladies are several tables away, on the other side of the room. Perhaps I should care about David's prostate surgery, but in this setting I find that very difficult.))

So far I have not come close to answering the question, How does one argue against incorrigible basic belief?

Approximately 12 years ago I began questioning many of my basic beliefs that I had held, (up to that point), for a Lifetime. I have always been a skeptic and I have always very much enjoyed thinking outside the box and playing the role of devil's advocate; but I had always done so (mainly) with the beliefs of others. It was between 10 and 12 years ago, and then again 7 years ago and 2 years ago, that some major Life changes, (coupled with my inherent skepticism), increased the impressionability of my personal foundation, creating internal opportunities for more extensive skepticism, more pointed questioning, a deeper self-evaluation, and the upheaval of constructing new foundations. My common ground with others expanded considerably and I began reading / self-educating in many areas I would not have touched upon previously. We cannot, (nor would I want to see us), intentionally bring about disability and/or health issues to duplicate these circumstances in anyone, but perhaps we could at least, (as adults pass into the second half of their Life), encourage a serious contemplation of one's (very, very) short Life compared to all past, present and future Lives, which should lead to thoughts of one's mortality, and then provide further encouragement to consider the widely varying beliefs surrounding an afterlife. I believe the resulting humility may perhaps soften some unyielding, incorrigible foundations.

I have never been one to advocate for more laws---(AaaaaAaaaaaa!!!)---so I am uncertain as to how to implement this educational initiative. Perhaps a required introduction, (incorporated into existing requirements), for 16 to 20-year-olds with a Web site encouraging staged self-study into one's 30's and 40's and 50's and 60's.

Again, this does not help us today.

Today, it feels like our options are limited. Today, it feels like change---(progress)---(learning)---must be initiated by the initiate. Today, it feels like progress is slow. I actively hope it is not too slow.

Today, it feels like my "active" is not sufficiently active.

So again, "How does one introduce a new truth to an incorrigible basic belief?"

Today, it feels like we must concur with Max Planck and wait for old truths to die; or, lose an election.

It took one week for Donald Trump to do something stupid. Against all counsel, (because he did not seek any), he spread his new wings, flew past conventional process, and from 10,000 feet shat on the U.S. Constitution, creating confusion and bafflement at borders, in airports worldwide, and on both sides of the aisle. On Monday, he compounded his shortsightedness by commandeering the bureaucracy of the badge and raising his personal skull and crossbones over the Department of Justice. (In this moment), this is not a question of right or wrong. This is a question of methods. Our new president is a bully.

It appears Mr. Trump now has the Department of Justice safely tucked under one wing, and with the Legislative Branch presumably tucked under the other wing, the only question that remains is how long will he be able to stay aloft with 2 right wings.

I see hope on two fronts. One, the *Judicial Branch, has already spoken, though, (it seems to me), rather meekly. They need to step up and do their job, as specified by the framers of our Constitution. It was James Madison who said, "The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."

The second hope lies in the Republican feathers ruffled by Trump's shenanigans. Though not a majority, a significant number of Republicans have spoken out against his unorthodox maneuvering, including Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) who said, "...President Trump's executive order was not properly vetted. We are particularly concerned that this order went into effect with little to no consultation with the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security. Such a hasty process risks harmful results."

Though I typically do not imbibe, political commentary, discussion, and exploits may become more of an influence on my thoughts and words. If there is a runaway train and a high likelihood of a train wreck, no matter how intensely I yearn for otherwise, how can I tear my eyes away? This administration will test our Constitution and the entire concept of separation of powers. At this juncture, less than two weeks in, I still have faith that stupidity will not run rampant through all branches and departments of our government. Bureaucracy alone is enough of a daily challenge. Though at this juncture, less than two weeks in, I am sad that I feel the necessity of such a strong response. I have previously said that "ignorance is immature stupidity" (and part of the learning process), and "stupidity is grownup ignorance" (practiced by those who should know better), and "the challenge is to outgrow ignorance before it becomes entrenched as stupidity." This challenge is a never-ending, lifelong endeavor. It appears that Donald Trump's ignorance is entrenched. He should know better. Instead of seeking common ground, he is throwing up roadblocks and building walls. Divisiveness is not the answer.

Trump's executive order on immigration is an interesting juxtaposition to some crime statistics I have looked at this week. I find it fascinating and actively hopeful to see the rate at which violent crime has decreased. Despite what we may see and hear from the media, and despite what some may maintain as reality, according to fact, we are getting smarter. I interpret decreasing violent crime rates as a strong indication of greater tolerance, understanding, empathy, intelligence, and a broadening of common ground; all necessities for the ultimate, long-term survival of Humanity. I interpret Donald Trump's actions in this past week as a strong indication of greater intolerance, divisiveness, combativeness, stupidity, and a narrowing of common ground; all necessities for ego and, (if not curtailed by the Judiciary and by autonomous, responsible Republican legislators), a recipe for tyranny.

All Hail, Tyrannosaurus Trump!

... ... ... ... ...

*Friday night, a court order temporarily lifted the immigration ban. Today the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security dismantled Trump's order, restoring travel privileges. Trump predictably responded with a tweet calling the judge a "so-called judge" and the restraining order "ridiculous!"

After two weeks of Trump, I am inclined to believe that the impact and influence of his daily blustering swagger will continue to fade into irrelevance. As long as we are diligent in our efforts to rationally battle his divisive rhetoric, (just as with his immigration foolishness), he will continue to be exposed for what he is: a Tyrant Wannabe King.

February 1, 2017.

For a few months now...

Until last night...

Once or (maybe) twice a week, it was like a single live wire, bare at the end, and one or two or three quick jabs as if the voltage was searching for a secret entrance. On occasion it was also a gentle brushing caress; an electrical tickle.

Last night, about 10 pm, falling deeper into sleep, I was yanked from the depths by a JOLT! You know that cusp when you're coming awake but you can still inhabit your minds eye. In that place I saw a mesh gridwork of bare wires, crackling; alive. In slow motion I saw it flatten, then curl, and surround; and like a jellyfish enfolding its prey, I saw it embrace my very being. As I watched the tiny copper crossroads embed themselves, I felt the Jolt. Then it released its grip, and floated (or swam) away.

Only a few seconds...

...that bespoke an eternity.

According to a study comparing blackbirds residing in a city and those living in the country, an ornithologist has

"found that city birds start their workdays earlier and their biological clocks tick faster. Just like their human counterparts, they adopt a faster pace, work longer hours, and work and sleep less in cities... Urban males also molt sooner and reach sexual maturity faster. In contrast, country blackbirds begin their day traditionally, at sunrise, don't rush, and sleep longer."

According to other animal researchers reporting on this metropolitan influence,

"we've caused at least ten urban species to grow brains that are 6 percent larger than those of their country cousins."

These quotes come from the book "The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us" written by Diane Ackerman. I have read, (and I believe), that similar results apply to Humans. In our neverending quest for Happiness, it appears we have unwittingly added both stress and intelligence, and each one's accompanying benefits and burdens. Depending upon the moment, this can be both encouraging and discouraging.

By stressing over stress, we are driven to search for ways to eliminate, (or at least limit), the adversity and pain. This in turn creates a necessity for more and more unique, clever, and often complex solutions. Which in turn, over several recent generations, has added to both individual and collective intelligence. Proposed solutions have ranged from spiritual to political to technological to philosophical to instructional to affiliations and loyalties to health and wellness to pleasure-seeking to creative expression to compassionate understanding to nonproductive (quiescent or harmful) escape to divisions of power and on and on and on, continuing to branch into ever-more specialized subsets, all seeking avoidance of pain and adversity.

Collectively we can no longer ignore the volumes of available knowledge that has come as a result of these changes, though individually many of us still practice the dictum "Ignorance is Bliss." We need to take a hint from our enlarged intelligence and use it to rein in our enlarged egos. We need to ignore the divisive customs and beliefs that have been handed down through the generations, and we need to adopt a tolerant, compassionate worldview that will lead us to common ground. We need to shape and mold our learning to accommodate the necessity of universally productive interdependence; and to do this we need to embrace the unavoidable pain of adversity.

I am skirting territory I've covered multiple times so I will veer this direction, take a left at the light, a right at the windmill, and search for unexplored ground in this area.

These are winding roads.

I find myself back in the same general vicinity.

I see one representation of ignorance over there gently pushing and coaxing and wheedling and encouraging intelligence up that steep hill, as intelligence looks back appreciatively. Over there I see another representative of ignorance laid back with his hands clasped behind his head, in the deep shade of that apple tree, eyes half closed, watching intelligence frolic aimlessly in the sunshine. And over there, yet another agent of ignorance is playfully tackling intelligence from behind and the two of them are gamboling about at the base of another steep hill where intelligence had been looking up contemplating a climb.

Intelligence comes from ignorance. The moment, (any moment), an individual leaves their ignorance dozing in the shade and allows their intelligence to prance in the sunlight, is a moment of triumph for ignorance. In order to advance my intelligence I must be conscious of and inspired by my ignorance. Instead, I too often believe that my intelligence so dwarfs my ignorance as to make it nonexistent or, at the very least, inconsequential. I ignore my ignorance at my own peril.

(The 3 examples below are taken from "The Chronicle of Higher Education" January 20, 2017 - Volume LXIII, Number 20.)

• To see that a convicted gunman killed nine African-Americans after he Googled "black on white crime" and was led to a white supremacist Web site that confirmed his "truth" that "black violence on white Americans is a crisis" though all reliable statistics show "most violence against white Americans is committed by other white Americans"...
• To hear that our new President has verbally validated the "truth" found in the National Enquirer...
• To read that college students, (from Yale, no less), believe the "truth" that "It is your---(Yale's)---job to create a place of comfort and home!... ...It is not about creating an intellectual space!" And when a Professor failed to do this to their satisfaction, circumstance dictated that he resign his residential position and Yale apologized to the students...

...I have to ask, how many of us are prancing in the sunlight?

For more than five years, as represented through this site, I have worked in my daily Life to be actively hopeful. Early in this post I stated that the combination of greater stress and greater intelligence can be both encouraging and discouraging. In this moment, I have moved past the stress, believing it is a given if we are to progress as is currently necessary. In this moment, I am much more discouraged (and disgusted) by this triumph of ignorance. Though it feels counterintuitive to cultivate ignorance in order to attain greater intelligence, I remain actively hopeful that in greater and greater numbers each one of us will acknowledge our personal ignorance and it will aid and inspire each one of us to climb ever-steeper hills.

I believe we have little choice.

Okay. Back in my transport I will veer right at that fork up ahead, stay true at the next crossroads, make a sharp left at the roundabout, and stop at the scenic overlook on the top of the hill. It is a beautiful view with the sun shining on the lush green valley sloping up to the gleaming skyscrapers that are reflecting sunlight back onto the forest canopy to the north. I look to the south and see foreboding thunderheads gathering and seemingly making their ponderous way toward the urban sprawl. I may have left a window open and I know I left the dog out. The kids will be home soon, and there's dinner to fix, and I promised Movie Night, and... So much to do...

So I get up from the table, walk across the kitchen, close the window, open the back door for the dog, explore the pantry and refrigerator, consider movie choices, and smile inwardly at my ignorance.

So much to do...