Let's Think Together
It is Not Called Blind for Nothing
Published on December 4, 2006 By ThinkAloud In Pure Technology
Late in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, there were two philosophically and scientifically major incidents that should have taught us much. Unfortunately, it seems, most of us never learn and keep repeating the same thing over and over again while totally convinced that they are very civilized, sophisticated, reasonable and logical.

The two incidents are very interesting:
The first was in late 1890's in a conference for the world's most elite physicists and mathematicians, the chairman of the conference expressed his sorrow for the next generation of scientists since all the major theoretical problems in Physics had been solved and there is no more room for the future generation to discover or invent. Few years later in 1905, Albert Einstein published Five short papers in a span of six months that turned the way we see the universe in a way that we cant even imagine..... the Relativity was born.

The second was after WW I: Russell and Whitehead (the pinnacle of mathematics at the time) took on the task of developing a perfect mathematical system that could solve any problem and represent any known physical system. And Surprise .... in 1931 Kurt Gödel, a reclusive Mathematician published his "Incompleteness Theorem" which says in plain English that no system of any kind that is powerful AND consistent (i.e. a system that is really capable of solving any problem and contains no contradictions) could ever be complete (i.e. perfect). He proved his theorem beyond doubt using the mathematics that was supposed to be perfect.

Now in the early years of the 21st Century, almost a full century after those two major eye-opening episodes, we still at it. We use half-baked studies, biased research or false information to over-medicate people only to discover that it was all wrong. Or, to modify the educational system only to realize that it was all a mistake. Or, to support a war only to discover it was based on a huge deception and falsehood. Or, to support slavery only to discover it was a really big immoral thing to do. Or, to support Affirmative action then oppose it. Or, support welfare then oppose it. Or support death penalty then oppose it then support it again. Or .... well .... there is so many more to write.

The question is: why many of us still do that? Why many of us still think that their point of view or idea is "perfect" or "Right beyond question" ?

I think it is the "Blind Faith" in what we read, think or even believe in.

Some of us believe Solely in science, others solely in Religion, still others solely in themselves.

Blind faith in whatever we believe in makes us totally blind to the facts and reality around us.

GOD HIMSELF, never asked anyone of us humans to believe in Him blindly. And Gödel (is it by mere coincidence that his last name is Gödel?!!!!!) proved that Science is telling us the same thing.

So why do some of us blindly believe that what they say is totally correct?
Why some of us can't be humble and realize that they could be wrong?
Why some of us don’t admit that they are wrong when all the facts point to that direction?
Why some of us shield their eyes so they cant see the other side of the coin?
Why some of us think that their personal experiences represent the whole truth of the world and society?

Nothing in this world is absolute, not science, not our understanding of our religion, not our social convictions, not our ideas about what is right and what is wrong.

Scientists ignore all scientific methods when they talk about religion, and Theologians forget their religious principles when they talk about science, conservatives forget about Conservatism when they govern, and liberals forget about Liberties when they govern.

Every one, or most nowadays anyway, think they are perfect beyond a doubt in his own world. while everything we know tells us NOTHING is perfect and moderation and open-mindedness is a must.

But, Is anyone listening? I doubt it.


If we realize that, the world could be much better place than it is right now.

Comments
on Dec 04, 2006
I go with generalities...and I'm open to change. Some things have to remain static in your mind, otherwise nothing really falls together does it? There are usually exceptions to every rule, so one must take the average. I do agree with your blind faith argument, though. People need to be open to other points of view and possible change. It's rigid closemindedness that gets us into a lot of trouble. One must ask questions and understand things before making a decision other than relying on what other people say or accepting one thing as fact and never even considering the possibilities. I must say I learn at least one new thing everyday that changes how I see a certain thing in the world...and I'm receptive to that, in fact I rather enjoy it.

~Zoo
on Dec 04, 2006
Yes, yes, yes. I agree with you TA, and you Zoo.

I've been thinking along similar lines, but could never get it into words. Bravo for that.

~Lucas
on Dec 05, 2006
I agree with the idea that blind faith is an issue in todays society. As our brains evolve our willingness to analyse and to question the thoughts and actions of our leaders and the conforms of our society is rapidly decreasing. Whether the desrease in willingness is a cause of laziness or a fear of expressing our oppinions the one thing we can gain from this is that the more chance we get to express our oppinion the less we do so. Open-mindedness is being diminished due to the resistance of change in most circumstances change is a step out of our comfort zones.

on Dec 21, 2006
I agree with you that we are not to follow God blindly nor did He ever ask us to. Everything I know about God is done with examination and testing.

This is the whole reason HE sent his son. We are following the one who showed us the way out. Nothing blind about that is there?



on Dec 24, 2006
KFC: We are following the one who showed us the way out. Nothing blind about that is there?


Exactly, if we don't follow even God blindly, is it not a must that we should not do that with anything else? but many many people do just that. They are just Republicans, or just Democrats and no matter what happens they argue and support "their own" regardless of reason and logic. That is how the country got in trouble many many times, but they never learn.
on Dec 24, 2006
I agree we need to use our minds....after all we have them for a reason now don't we? Our creator God wants us to use our minds. He said to follow him with our whole mind, heart and soul. After all he did give them to us to use.

After a while tho, it's like sitting in a chair. After you sit in a chair once you know it's going to support you. You don't doubt it, you just sit in it. That's how I see my relationship with God. It's been tested and tried. I know He's going to support me because of my prior dealings with Him. I know he's genuine so I don't doubt anymore. But I do test the spirits now and then as He instructed to make sure I'm not sitting in another's chair by mistake.

As far as politics go, you can't ever have that kind of faith in either side. They move around too much. If not careful, your butt would most definitely be on the floor. They are not too much into the supporting business these days.

Eyes wide open....always.



on Dec 25, 2006
KFC: I know He's going to support me because of my prior dealings with Him. I know he's genuine so I don't doubt anymore


True. Very True. However we should never take HIM for granted. HE warned against that. HE like to test us everyonce in a while to see how strong our faith is.

As far as politics go, you can't ever have that kind of faith in either side


I am not asking for that kind of faith in politics, my point is this: we all should be humble enough to realize that our opinions are not perfect and can never be, so why some of us are so hard headed that they argue in support of things or policies that are so obviously bad or not true or harmful or illogical? lets be reasonable and not just insist on what we think no matter what. If logic and the facts disprove our opinion we should be humble and reasonable to admit it and stop argueing.
on Dec 25, 2006
I am not asking for that kind of faith in politics, my point is this: we all should be humble enough to realize that our opinions are not perfect and can never be, so why some of us are so hard headed that they argue in support of things or policies that are so obviously bad or not true or harmful or illogical? lets be reasonable and not just insist on what we think no matter what. If logic and the facts disprove our opinion we should be humble and reasonable to admit it and stop argueing.


It's not just politics that exposes this. We tend to be like this in all sorts of areas. I think you nailed it tho when you mentioned "humble." It's our pride that stops us from admitting we need to change.

Sometimes it can be very hard to change direction....

I like this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Sometimes we follow blindly for very subjective reasons not thinking things all the way thru...logically like you put it. I agree