Abject Nonsense

“It is possible to be a master in false philosophy, easier, in fact, that to be a master in the truth, because a false philosophy can be as simple and consistent as one pleases.” – George Santayana

Whew. That quote hits you right on the screws. It aligns with the whole “perception is reality” thing. What one sees as truth may be fabricated for the benefit of their own ends. Or they may have constructed it to insulate themselves from a truth they don’t want to face.

We do this unknowingly in our daily lives. Sometimes it is for good reasons, but sometimes it is not. Think for a moment of those who claim to be devout Christians but are nearly the opposite of Christlike. Or those who believe in fiscal conservatism but suddenly aren’t worked about a rapidly swelling deficit. In these cases it is a matter of convenience. One pretends to be one thing for the purpose of reconciliation with their self image but really they are a philosophical chameleon.

You could even take this to the extreme such as a case of an abusive partner who beats his partner because he/she doesn’t love him enough. A positive would be to believe that humans are inherently good when the evidence is sketchy.

For me the best option is to define my own ethical code (which often aligns with the mainstream but is not lockstep), embrace my own scruples, and then trace my own boundaries from this. The trick is avoiding thick-skulled rigidity. Change is one of the only things we can assuredly expect in life. It is through openness to adaptation that we can grow. If we don’t, our minds will wither even faster than our bodies. I for one am not seeking Ibuprofen for my soul.

Some change is healthy. A lot of it can be if we approach it right. But first we must know the difference between a self-serving prevarication and a solid hypothesis. Don’t fall prey to the nonsense of others or yourself. Seek truth in the real world and in you. Everything else is just wasting time.