Thinking Man: Recent Episodes
Vman
Why are some ethics question such a dilemma? Why do the answers start to contradict our own statements?
Wisdom: A Counterbalance to Bad Decision Making. Why we make bad decisions: 01:52 We make decisions based on current knowledge, past experience, emotional preferences, perception. We genuinely believe the decision we are making is the best. 03:28 Lack of goals or not staying on point. Not prioritizing in alignment with goals. Short term view.
07:01 Fears and desires blind us. What we want to believe. Theranos
09:30 Self-destruct. Snowball effect. After making a bad decision go all in. (breaking diet)
10:41 Confirmation bias. Developing a quick lazy belief and then seeking out information to support our belief.
13:18 Impulsive decision
Laziness –
14:30 Ignoring facts
14:43 Poor or limited comparisons of options and/or outcomes and/or opportunities. Based on perceived outcomes, options, availability.
18:33 Improper starting point, foundation “the obstacle is the way”
20:30 Only looking at the immediate one move ahead, or vice versa Need a closeup realistic view as well as a distant view
21:55 Gives me a high. Does it bring me pleasure? Doesn’t mean it is right
23:40 Lack of self-control (discipline) (character)
24:03 Not trusting ourselves.
24:16 Wanting to conform to norms.
24:23 anxiety sometimes doesn’t allow us to see what is in front of us
26:09 Distorting Data. Perceive the world around us contrary to objective reality.
30:09 Improper value system therefore equation comes out wrong.
30:33 Distracted, not focused. 31:58 Instinctive, automatic (autopilot) mind does what it believes is best
35:07 Define wisdom: Knowledge, Humility, Perspective. Ability to discern inner qualities and relationships – insight
37:14 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_English_Dictionary (Oxford English Dictionary) defines wisdom as "Capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgement in the choice of means and ends;
37:51 https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/wisdom (Psychology Today) says that wisdom, “involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding”. Think! Think! Think! 38:17 Philosophy – love of wisdom
The only way to build this knowledge bank is to think!!!! Knowing how to live well requires one to be knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas. There are two reasons for this. First, it is impossible, I claim, to acquire knowledge of how to live well without also acquiring a great deal of knowledge in a wide range of subjects. Just as one cannot have knowledge of trigonometry until one has knowledge of arithmetic, I think one cannot have knowledge of how to live well until one has knowledge of: human psychology, specifically what contributes to happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, and so on; history, to learn from how people have lived in the past; literature, which helps one to explore the perspectives of diverse others; and so on. The second reason why knowing how to live well requires knowledge in a wide range of subjects is that people who are living well are intellectually curious. Wise people—in my experience, at least—love to learn. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine someone who is genuinely living well, but whose mind is stagnating. Thus, the wise are forever students. Michael Prinzing – the practical philosopher
44:00 Hindsight is only another perspective to be able to look back and see the reality of a situation. Hindsight gives us a more complete view (if we see it). We don’t see what we did wrong, we see what we
Political Correctness The reality, dangers, and intellectual insult
DEFINE: 01:05 A belief that language and practices which could offend sensibilities of a particular group in society should be erased. REALITY: 03:42 This not about politics. 03:45 PC is not a political side or a political debate, it is about thinking, or not thinking. Not about sides.
07:22 PC not about they, them, but us, we, me; The enemy is not another, the enemy is a poor way of thinking, communicating, and interacting with others.
09:19 Always going to offend somebody. This is no concern for offending others. It is about pushing a personal agenda. The reality that they don’t want their group (s) offended, hence themselves.
11:25One man’s freedom is another man’s offence. And it works both ways.
13:45 I want your language to align itself w my ideologies.
15:00 Judging while disguising itself as open and caring.
20:05 A language where you define the rules as you go and decide who you apply them to. Allows you to call foul when others speak, and justify what you say. Puts on the defensive.
23:11 Opposition to political correctness is not opposition to critique. Actually, political correctness is the opposition to critique of themselves. Opposition is not asking for people not to be called out that are offensive. The problem is that they believe political correctness is calling out others and it is not. That has always existed. Political correctness is calling out others, claiming higher moral ground, and not realizing that is how two sides always argue. The difference is that they want the other side to be ruled as wrong (political correctness.)
26:26 PC is not calling out the wrongs of society, though they may believe they are. They believe they are on a virtuous mission to attack all of the wrongs in the world while not looking in the mirror and continually taking the moral high ground and justifying their own actions.
28:53 Just as a child only sees things from his view and how it affects him so is PC. A temper tantrum that somebody wasn’t nice to them (didn’t do, behave, give) them what they wanted??
33:32 Ethnocentric – judging other cultures and believing values and standards you hold are superior. Hence others inferior. Nothing wrong with preference. But to think we prefer because better is foolish. May be better to me or for me, but doesn’t mean it is better.
37:45 Sociocentric - looking at and concerned only with the world primarily from only your own social group perspective (close minded). 39:40 Egocentrism: inability to differentiate between self/others. Inability to untangle preconceived framework of ideals. Inability to accurately assume or understand any perspective other than one’s own. Disregard for others. Childish. Selfish.
it’s about ME! ME! ME!
41:50 Lazy – people don’t have to think for themselves, or weigh the conversation, just criticize the words of others that do not align with the agreed upon acceptable perspective.
43:25 DANGERS:
44:25 Which group? Groups deemed taboo to offend, but ok to offend others. Who makes the list and the severity of the offence? OK to offend the groups you don’t like though (opposed, differing) An atrocity to dislike others because they are different, but ok for you to do the same to those that differ to you???
48:08 Who decides, who judges what is offensive? Different degrees of offense? Slight/intense?
48:51 Allows you to be judge and jury – self-righteous executioner.
49:50 Labels others as hateful, dangerous to society. (the society they want) that does not include you.
52:30 Opposite of freedom of expression. Opposed to freedom of expression accept own viewpoint. Close minded though they believe they are open minded and others close minded.
54:46 Used as a club.
55:56...
02:40 Free to do what? 04:36 I cannot define your freedom. I can only help make it clear to you. 06:04 What does your freedom look like to you? Are you looking deep enough? 06:12 Why don’t you feel free? 06:21 Are you looking for freedom from something? Freedom to do something? 07:48 Types of freedom we look for: financial/ time/ relationship/ location/ creativity/ health/ emotional/ experience/ giving/ growth. 18:55 Freedom is not defined by physicality, local, but state of mind. 19:00 Freedom means a change must occur!!! Think different, Be different, Make a difference! 20:20 Sign of lack of freedom: no peace/ overwhelmed/ self-doubt/ excuses/ lack of focus. 21:15 Freedom is: invigorating! Rejuvenates! 22:25 Freedom is not: Do whatever I want whenever I want. (already exists) 24:00 Will seeking freedom from one cage lead to enclosing yourself in another cage. A worse situation. 24:29 What we call success is usually a consolation prize. 27:22 Are you weighed down by life and time chokers? 29:00 It is usually our perceptions, fears, expectations that hold us back. 33:00 Remember prisoners are not free because of choices they made. 33:40 There may be restraints in our life, but so many other opportunities to exert our freedom. We should focus on the important areas. EG. Free to help, love, forgive, mentor, grow. 36:32 We don’t realize how much bondage we have weighed ourselves down with. 37:08 Free to use your unique gifts/genius. 42:03 We see freedom as absence of obstacles ( the obstacle is the way!!!) 42:33 Free to to pursue something that you feel deep inside. Fulfil a purpose and a longing. An empowerment 53:13 We look at freedom as an end in itself (retirement), that all of our problems will be solved, but it is only a pathway do doing something more meaningful. 55:05 No financial debt does not necessarily mean we have financial freedom. We may have to enslave ourselves to keep it up. 57:20 Remember. We started stating that I can’t tell you how. Only help you to think differently and see clearly. WAKE UP! Don’t be like everybody else or what the rest of the sheep our pursuing. Realize that you are already free. There may be some obstacles in the way of giving you more freedom, but usually it is because we have placed them there. It is time to change course. Rewrite the code. Freedom starts NOW! Think clearly, Think differently, act on those thoughts , make it happen. Until next time. TBM
We tend to react from weakness. Take back control of your life and actions. Respond from strength!