The Byproducts of Our Core Philosophies
Oh how I love the internet! You can find information on practically any subject. It is a perfect place for a thinker outside the boxer to roam. I once had the idea of creating a website that would show you all the local restaurants in town that you can order out from. With one click you could order you favorite meal and have it sent to your home. Well, I did a little bit of research, I found out that someone had already beat me to the punch. Several some ones, actually. After a google search I found a few websites that exactly provided the service I was thinking of. So amazing!
The internet is also a great place to discuss ideas. With a few clicks of the mouse, one can be engaging in a controversial subject with people from all over the world.
I got in a discussion about religion with a professor from Duke University. He is a brilliant man, and a strong advocate of atheism. It is interesting how a discussion with someone of an opposite opinion reveals unknown insights of the subject. As we discussed our differences of opinions for several weeks, one thing became quite clear to me:
we all carry with us some sort of core philosophy.
how me and the Duke university fellow thought
This is a set of principles, beliefs and maxims that we use to understand the world around us. We all have a different outlook on the world and I venture to say that no two philosophies are exactly alike. Even though we may come from the same background or school of thought, our interpretation of things will be different. Every person is unique, and so is our core philosophy.
This core philosophy goes beyond the observable and testable in the scientific sense. It is outside the realms of empiricism and science. It can’t be proven any more than it can be unproven.
For example, take the philosophy that people are generally good. Try to prove or disprove it. How do you even begin? It can’t be done. However, despite that we will never know whether it is exact or not, it is still an important principle to believe. This is the same with each of our core philosophies. We find them worth believing in, for they give us the foundation of the world. Here is a link to more insights into what I am talking about.(go to second lions dialogue)
However, a horrible consequence can result from clinging to a philosophy.
Like a factory that produces a valuable good for society, but pollutes the environment around it, so too can our core philosophy emit toxic character traits. A common one can be named as arrogance or intolerance.
If we hold too firmly to our belief system, we endanger ourselves into thinking that our way is better than another’s. Another way that intolerance can rear its ugly head is if we hold shallow the sacred experiences that another has had in building their core philosophy. Disrespect and intolerance for other’s beliefs has been the core of many wars in human history.
While we don’t have to agree, it is imperative that we respect each other’s ways as much as we do our own. I believe that this is consistent with the teachings of Christ, (and other spiritual leaders) for the golden rule says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
I like the way the founding fathers looked at religion. I agree with what Paul Johnson says in A History of the American People:
“The Founding Fathers saw education and religion going hand in hand”(p209).
They saw it as a good institution that teaches morality to the people, but, as the first amendment shows, they did not favor any particular one. As a matter of fact, they looked at religion more for its ethical teachings rather than its dogmatic doctrines and saw it as a necessary element for the American republic to thrive. This system of neutrality is good; for it demands that we build a tolerance for others religions.
So why do we fall prey to these cancerous traits? Why, when we live with the first amendment, does so much intolerance and disrespect abound? It is because of the way our minds function.
Our brain is highly efficient in connecting the dots of the events that make up the experiences of life. It simplifies the million pieces of information it receives into a logical path of cause and event. It explains the why. I don’t think that it is coincidence that reason, the very word that describes the highest mental process one can use, also means cause.
The fact that our mind does this is good, for without a simplified understanding of what is happening; our lives would be full of chaos. For example, if our mind never picked up on the subtle social norms (guys may struggle with this one more) of proper interaction with others, we would ostracize ourselves. Also, if we did not have an inert sense of the laws of physics, we would not be able to walk. For example, if our mind did not subconsciously assume that the ground is stable when we take a step, we would walk very fearfully.
So it is very good that our mind functions the way it does. However, just because our mind likes to come up with conclusions, does not always mean that it is the only answer, or even that it is right.
So what is the solution to the disease of intolerance? If our mind is designed to head down that path anyways, what can we do to stop it? The solution can be found in the trait of good old fashioned humility. I am not talking about thinking less of oneself, but rather being aware of the fallacy our brain can put us into.
Question our thought process. Think about why we have come to the conclusions we have. Do an occasional cleaning of your core belief with positive skepticism and study other’s perspectives to bring in new insight.
This type of thinking is what is called “thinking outside the box”, and it is key to changing the world.
-Aharon Smith
Think Outside the Box, My Friends 
