I meant to make this post for quite some time now. For those who follow me, you might have noticed that at the end of each post I place an illustration of a blind man following another blind man. I believe that image alone expresses the human condition better than any other concept I have stumbled upon.
From the very moment we pop out in this world, the human experience is destined to fall within specific crevices. Whether those deal with culture, religion, politics or sports is of little importance. We are bound to those around us and there is little leeway for one to radically escape from their given narrative.
What we know and what we understand is based on concepts and beliefs that others have introduced long before we came to be. Layer upon layer, our world is constructed much like an onion, leaving us crawling for meaning on the surface. Little do we know (or care) about the original reasons something came to be. We are narrowly caught up in our own past, present and future.
This mode of existence manifests itself due to our limited lifespan. The human culture is vastly long and complicated. No single person has the time, energy or resources to investigate the entirety of existence. As a form of "hacking", evolution armed us with belief. Belief, which almost works like an instinct, makes all the analyzing of reality obsolete. After all, some others have done the work before us. The only thing we can do is either vaguely reference them of blindly believe to their version of the truth. Our DNA works much the same. Most of it is junk from previous species with only a fraction remaining "activated"
For those that form beliefs based on evidence keeping up with the facts is even harder. The world is highly entropic. What we hold dear and true today might not be the case the day after. This is the main reason most people just give up once they have formed a given belief. Our minds cannot compute the tragedy of the second law of thermodynamics and rather compromise as if time freezes solid.
The belief in our preceding stories eventually creates intricacies that become almost impossible to decipher due to the aforementioned onion styled architecture. Entire fields of science and world religions exist today due to faulty investigations and hasty beliefs others have slowly amassed over time
Even if something comes along to disprove a theory is very hard to get implemented. The history around the field and the careers and reputation involved make it impossible to just dismiss an entire field. This is why alchemy for example endured for so long. This is why homeopathy is still considered valid today. Same rule applies with almost anything — whether it is the notion of democracy in politics, the deity problem in religion or the flawed web interface that freezes on high traffic. We do get the "updates" and "quick fixes" for our concept but instead of rejecting all previous knowledge and rebuilding something new, we chose to stick it on the top of the already flawed layer hoping that everything underneath will somehow inherit the same "true" values.
This is also the core reason why stories are such an integral part of the human experience. Whether the subject is political, religious or scientific becomes irrelevant. Whether the story is true or not it is also irrelevant. It seems that we fall under the same spell every-time someone is explaining something through the simple narrative of simple emotions, symbols and heroism. In that respect we are still stuck in the past, following the same meme even if most of the constituents are flawed. A dimmed fire serves the same purpose as a modern living-room in front of the TV. This is also the main reason how and why we are able to digest so much crap in front of the screen and still be able to function in our daily lives.
One of my favorite quotes that describes the tragedy of the human condition comes from David Mitchel's Cloud Atlas:
To be is to be perceived, and so to know thyself is only possible through the eyes of the other. The nature of our immortal lives is in the consequences of our words and deeds, that go on and are pushing themselves throughout all time. "Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.” — The Revelation of Sonmi 451, Cloud Atlas.
As you may also have noticed, most of my posts feel contrarian and seem to reject constantly the status-quo. The main reason for this is that I acknowledge my own ignorance and limitations. If I cannot examine something directly or lack sufficient evidence, I simply reject it. In fact, I dismiss almost everything and only accept something only after I have thoroughly analyzed it. It might sound tedious but it is much more efficient than you think. There is so much crap around us that once you go through the process, life becomes much simpler and clearer.
One tactic I often follow is what I call "The Null Hypothesis Assumption". In statistics, the term "null hypothesis" expresses the default position that there is no relationship between any given phenomena. Rejecting or disproving the null hypothesis assumes that there is relationship between two phenomena. This is a central task in the modern practice of science (and epistemology) — which is more or less the field of statistics that gives precise criteria for rejecting a null hypothesis.
The problem is that most people live their lives backwards to this epistemic notion. In other words, they always assume something is true and that given relationships between two (or more) phenomena exist. It then becomes almost impossible to convince them otherwise. Originally assuming the null hypothesis bulletproofs one from potential intellectual flaws.
Our brains are not build around logic and reason but rather emotions and beliefs. Logic and reason consume way too much energy so most people regress to their own auto-pilot. Even science itself is not immune to this since many fields today like astrobiology, cosmology, psychology, sociology (to name a few) are based largely on beliefs rather than deductions that stem from null hypothesis processing.
I believe the most humble thing one can do is come to the realization that we are all blind following the blind who followed the blind... The most effective tactic that has worked for me so far is assuming the null hypothesis in regards to everything. I simply reject most beliefs and assume ignorance for most things.
Always assume you are ignorant and that your own senses are limited due to a flawed design. This realization alone unravels an array of perspectives that very few have been able to touch upon. Remember, you are ultimately and inevitably blind that is destined to follow the blind.
Very well written @kyriacos. I have nothing to add, just that I agree and support your perception.
Thank you K4r1nn
And economics.
I just love the idea of the Electronic Monk in a book by Douglas Adams. It was made because people got fed up believing so many things. It seemed better to have a robot doing all the believing for them. Very refreshing idea.
BTW I think The Path to the Truthtm was out there for a while, but he stopped posting 8-P.
Dam it. How did i forget the biggest meme of all. Economics.
"BTW I think The Path to the Truth was out there for a while, but he stopped posting 8-P."
You need to trademark this. Brilliant!
As always thank you for the insightful comments man.
A very good post, straight from the heart, thank you!
I am a huge fan of the Cloud Atlas and was very glad to see a quote coming out of this brilliant movie, one of my favourites in the past ten years. Namaste :)
I'm a sucker for it myself and it is hard to break out of it.
Being aware of it is a step forward :)
Yes.
Disclaimer: I am just a bot trying to be helpful.
Very interesting. I love how social media rewards people for this.
Ofcource. We should be rewarded for all our efforts
This one is ready to resteem. Good one.
Feel free to shoot it up to the stratosphere
Awesome post @kyriacos. Often wisdom is just embracing how little we truly know and having the faith to follow our intuition.
Thank you. Indeed. Well said.
Faith...its a derivative of the whole, a creator.
Everyone has faith in something, observable or nill, be it theology, physics, or "null hypothesis". Epistemology is within the very ordered cognitive syntax itself. Interaction within the whole procreates the processes that in and of itself sustain the material universe. Nothing remains static...humanity's ability to observe the fourth demension solidifys this. Thus everything percieved dwells within the conscience mind. The information loop that brought about reality as rhetorical conceptual quotes; "I think, therefor I am". In conclusion, one can only be certain that they themself exist by cognitive assimilation of thought all brought to you by "faith"...by logic and (my personal belief)...God.
Good read, upvote from me & thanks.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts as well
Maybe wrong direction?
lol
How eloquent and easy to comprehend; how clouded are our minds that leaves this so difficult to live by.
Awesome, awesome post. Following, upvoted.
BTW, just watched Cloud Atlas for the second time recently, and it won't be the last. Got much more understanding from the second viewing.
Be well sir.
Glad you liked it. Truly that movie is underrated
Wow! you; my friend, have impressed me. Thank you!
Following you now.
I am glad you liked it!
digimon
Thats one hell of a post mate. Thanks :)
Thank you :)
That was great, "blind leading the blind", yep by the billions!
:)
Thanks for this thought provoking post. Upvoted and Resteemed so I can go back and re-read it over and over again.
I am glad you liked it @suzique . Thank you for sharing.
great post and sure I am following you :)
thank you :)
you are welcome
Since I started on Steemit I have loved this picture at the end of your posts. When my brother jacor introduced me to steemit, one of your posts were the first I've read on Steemit and I think after him and my sister in law naomi.louise you were the third person I followed.
I am glad you enjoy my posts. I am thinking making it into an animation soon.
That would be so cool!
You make many statements on religion and yet you have never investigated anything in it or attempted experiments based on any hypothesis, that something must have happened and can it be recreated by repeatable experiment?
If something can, then just like science it must be accepted, correct?
I have investigated approximately 23 religions during my life and I have yet to find one that its claims could be investigated scientifically. You see in science and experiment an inquiry has to fall under the premises of falsifiability — which many religious claims fail.
No religion can make repeatable predictions. Heck, half the scientific fields fail to do so.
"Science" is never to be just "accepted". Science demonstrates given concepts under a specific time frame.
Among other fine things, sciences at which I am very adept, thank you. You premise is incorrect, that a religion produces predictable results. I could personally demonstrate this for you to prove how very wrong you are. For the longest time I have studied how to do miracles, walking on water (without assistance), healing solely by faith, and so many other areas such as rain making. That it is impossible for me as a human being to do any such thing is known and so if it happens, then there must be something else that does the act when requested. I am past well over 4,500 events, experiments and published many. People scoff but I started with this premise, "If you want to learn something new forget everything you know."
As for that, because I am so adept and because I simply will not accept persecution for this branch of science and the study of it and since I have witnessed on numerous occasions others with faith and the desire to ask for the fulfillment on a miracle and seen it happen, as a scientist this shall be my only attempt to talk to you. I have a degree in your philosophy and know it to be inadequate, which you even state that it is.
Should you actually investigate properly forgetting that everything you know is wrong according to your own premise because of the preceding layers of the onion you so accurately describe your results may be different and something may occur. When that does occur, it will be as profound as it was for me and every other person that experienced a miraculous event.
Truly my friend, we are mortal and know this but if we have a spirit that does spiritual things, then are we mortal?
Next, everyone with a serious intent to investigate and I shall use Christianity as the example as I know the most about it knows that the persecution of Christians wiped out most of any facts or formulas. Jesus is not his name, for example. Well, if that not his name can we expect the best results when it is used? This is indeed a problem. As for what his name actually is or if by now if he really cares if it is used correctly? That I leave for your investigation.
Just like humanity thought there might be something in the heavens and there is, there is something else, the spiritual and as to what that is precisely we will all find out.
A substantial body of evidence exists though I will not tell you where it is at or how to access it like the time I asked a professor, what is the formula for a parabolic dish y=4AC (might y^2 been a long time since I made one). He responded as soon as you figure it out you will know. And eventually I did, made a dish and moved onto many other things.
I does seem to me my friend @kyriacos that your results were poor and it made you dismal. The first time I tried to faith heal, I knew this man who was blind in one eye. I tried to heal him using techniques in a book I read and he did not tell me until I was through that he had a glass eye in his head.
Since then, and oh was that embarrassing in front of all those people, I have progressed many a time so far past that. My new was stuck in the eye with a stick when he was three. At age twenty-four I believe it was, he could see out of it again though the scar was still there. Fascinating. A woman had a tumor in her left breast and it disappeared after growing to the size of a tennis ball. Yes, should you ever mildly succeed at any attempt it is beyond description in experience. Though I have never had much luck with teeth, I am working on it.
Well, good luck in your search and the only reason to post this is because it is out there if you can find it. You wanted to find it or you would not have asked the question in the first place.
It is a bit like a question I had once - were the physicists smart enough to build a doomsday device that would not work under certain conditions in the event they were gone and some one evil could press the button?
Your claims are unsubstantiated. They cannot be tested and to say the least, they are hearsay. If you claim to do miracles then in a way, you are immortal. You could try to slit your throat and then try to heal yourself but I am not sure it will roll out well for you.
You cannot know, unknown unknowns. How do you know the formulas that have been wiped out, if they had indeed been wiped out? You are caught up here in your own logical fallacy.
Sure. Jesus was not his name. It was "Christus" which means "the anointed one". It was a title more used from people that were teachers. Nonetheless, there is no evidence for Christus to have ever existed. Rather, what exists, is a conglomerate of different stories, from different people, all making up one identify - Jesus. This is how myths are constructed and we have plenty of evidence for that.
Thank you for your detailed comment.
Some people ask themselves "what will the future be like?"
Meanwhile, others are out creating it. I believe that all of us as users building the Steemit community are creating and building the future of the digital economy every minute.
Indeed we are. Yet again one has to ask. How does this related to my post?
You talked about the past present and future. I am under the thought that some of us wait to see what future we are presented and others propose a future for others. Testing the status quo of forging a path vs following a path.
Indeed. In fact many picture the future but really reflect on the present or even worse, the past.
Lovely post. Society follows what trends.
90% of the people just follow what is "hip"
Leaving a low margin of people that truly express themselves.
I have an article about this which you might find interesting. It's the first one in my blog if you are interested.
Cheers and keep it real :)
I will definitely check it out man.
Always real :)
Definitely will show your post to my son. He is. becoming more blind by following his teachers blindly!
glad to be of use
Hello my friend
Thanks for this post and the wonderful post
I really liked what I wrote in this post
The selection of the post is so lovely
Happy day to you and always
I think you post this everywhere. it is considered a "spam thank you"
great post!
thank you!
nice point of view...
Now that's a true follow signature :) blindly followed and upvoted.
Hello! @kyriacos!
I'm hosting a philosopher's challenge on my page. I love how you write so i was wondering if you could leave a topic for me on my challenge to write about <3
Hope I'm not asking too much.
Cheers!
Thank you. I will be checking it out soon.
I have read that current research suggests we live in a holographic universe or a vast spectrum of vibratory sound and light, of which our 5 senses are only attuned to approx. .005 of this spectrum.
With this explanation in mind and the fact that we have little control over the basic bodily functions that sustain us: plus our confinement to a highly systematized earth environment, it would seem that we are quite blind and robotic in nature.
hello~^^ kyriacos ~~ great post!
hello my friend. glad you liked it!
Wonderful post.. hopefully on this platform we can encourage self-initiative and prevent ourselves from becoming sheeple....
hopefully
I concur. Good post. Keep them coming. and i will try to not so blindly keep reading them!
nicely put. thank you
Excellent post that I just stumbled upon now, even though I follow you. How the hell did this make so much Steem without being on the Trending page? Or am I blind?
nice my friend
Thank you
Why not? https://steemit.com/philosophy/@unusualconcept/challenge-being-on-steemit-can-be-a-statement-in-human-history
I would not have changed a thing
That`s a very interesting post. I am a pastor and interested in philosophy. I wonder how you would label your current worldview. Atheistic agnosticism maybe?
Polyatheist. I don't believe in many Gods
I've never heard of that one. :-D
Well, I'm afraid that your description tells almost nothing about your standpoint. Christians, Muslims, Jews and even some polytheists don't believe in many (other) gods.
I don't even think that that could be justifiably called a worldview.
Every worldview has at it's bottom a necessary starting-point or first principle. What would you consider your first principle or the starting-point of your reasoning? How do gain knowledge?
Perception is a force that can be guided and it is there due to awareness. The belief one holds and the knowledge accepted for a certain way or judgement will then be formed and aligned for him in that way for his perception. So it is good to emphasize on not following others and believing in your own way even creating it. Also it's good knowledge to be open to accept new forms of knowledge and align them instead of old ones. Nice article man.
Very interesting. Thank you!
Excellently-written. $551 in rewards well-deserved.