Post by Mysti on Jul 2, 2007 15:23:59 GMT -5
Analytical Thinking
We say that we are on a path of intuition and inspiration. Many of us feel that using the disciplines of analytical thinking and logic conflicts with these paths. Clearly there is much about religion and belief that is not the proper concern of analytical thinking or logic. However, this fact does not preclude the wise use of analytical thinking with regard to many aspects of religion and lifestyle. Even in our society at large, the education system places very little emphasis on this form of wisdom. Elementary and secondary schools normally tailor their curriculum to the needs of business and the economic community in general. If analytical thinking were taught, advertising firms would have to find some new techniques. This is not some obscure and powerful conspiracy; most people expect the schools to prepare students for life in modern society. For the most part, their primary failure in this regard is that they prepare tomorrow's workers for today's marketplace.
Religious truth can never be proved - or disproved - by logic. On the other hand, in addition to being possible, it is also very useful to subject much of belief to intellectual analysis, as well as submitting it to our own intuitive apperceptions. What you believe about the nature of deity and why you have chosen to believe in it should have a logical structure even though the foundation assumption, that god/desses do exist, must ultimately be accepted or rejected without recourse to logic.
Analytical thinking requires the submission of both facts and conclusions to an examination for accuracy, truth, and logical methodology. While it's perfectly possible to arrive at a true conclusion from false statements combined with fallacious logic, this is always the exception.
Historical perspective means knowing about things that happened before one was born and remembering what people have said, whether it was six months, four years, one hundred years, or even one thousand years ago. Any problems, whether political or religious or just social can be better understood if you know the history behind them.
Magical thinking: If you speak as if something isn't there, it won't be.
Why is analytical thinking important??? Because if you use it, you will be harder to fool.
We cannot afford to believe practically everything anyone tells us.
In paganism we get most of our information from books and from our teachers.
Unfortunately, there are very few people out there willing to teach that are responsible enough to know truth from fiction. So most pagans out there are solitary and get their info from web sites and books. It is up to them and you to use your head in such matters to distinguish truth from fiction. And most books will quote other books or authors.
EXPERT...... x is an unknown quantity and spert is a drip under pressure.... so an expert is an unknown quantity of drips under pressure.... To me there is no such thing as an expert or all knowing person on any subject!! Someone may be very learned in their area of "expertise" but they do not know it all, and are still learning. If you stop learning, you are dead.
Poisoning the well: Attacking a teacher or an "expert" saying they are a bad person so should not be believed. Common example... Crowley... though I do not really like him, and think he is dark. His books are accurate for his time and belief. Though his teaching a bit dark... he is a viable author.
Informal Logic: examines the various ways that people, through voice or print, can lead others to accept their ideas whether or not there are facts to back them up.
Deductive logic is the formal organized system of logic developed by Aristotle. It arranges two true statements into a formal pattern that, when used correctly, produce a true conclusion...
Example:
All cats are mammals.
My pet Mysto is a cat.
Therefore Mysto is a mammal. (True conclusion)
But switch it around a lil........
Some mammals are cats.
My pet Mysto is a cat.
Therefore................ (You cannot come up with a logical conclusion because of the wording)
Words are magick and like all magick, they must be used with care. Not only is it important sometimes to check the dictionary definition of a word, it is important to know that a lot of words have slippery meanings, which is extremely useful to those interested in pulling a fast one. The meaning of language can also be deliberately changed using careful word choice.
When used unconsciously, ambiguous words and even more, sentences with grammar that makes them ambiguous, can be very amusing. Just on how the words are read.
On the net, where most communication is through the written word, some can misunderstand intent because they cannot hear the tone of your voice. You must remember that not all are using the talent they are given or even have the talent we do at sensing intent...
Be careful with your words!
Since we communicate, teach, live, sometimes love, practice our craft on the web, we must be aware of words and how they are used. You must develop your logical and magickal skills to attune to the play and stress of words here and every place online and irl (in real life). This is as much a necessity as breathing.
USE YOUR HEADS!!!
We say that we are on a path of intuition and inspiration. Many of us feel that using the disciplines of analytical thinking and logic conflicts with these paths. Clearly there is much about religion and belief that is not the proper concern of analytical thinking or logic. However, this fact does not preclude the wise use of analytical thinking with regard to many aspects of religion and lifestyle. Even in our society at large, the education system places very little emphasis on this form of wisdom. Elementary and secondary schools normally tailor their curriculum to the needs of business and the economic community in general. If analytical thinking were taught, advertising firms would have to find some new techniques. This is not some obscure and powerful conspiracy; most people expect the schools to prepare students for life in modern society. For the most part, their primary failure in this regard is that they prepare tomorrow's workers for today's marketplace.
Religious truth can never be proved - or disproved - by logic. On the other hand, in addition to being possible, it is also very useful to subject much of belief to intellectual analysis, as well as submitting it to our own intuitive apperceptions. What you believe about the nature of deity and why you have chosen to believe in it should have a logical structure even though the foundation assumption, that god/desses do exist, must ultimately be accepted or rejected without recourse to logic.
Analytical thinking requires the submission of both facts and conclusions to an examination for accuracy, truth, and logical methodology. While it's perfectly possible to arrive at a true conclusion from false statements combined with fallacious logic, this is always the exception.
Historical perspective means knowing about things that happened before one was born and remembering what people have said, whether it was six months, four years, one hundred years, or even one thousand years ago. Any problems, whether political or religious or just social can be better understood if you know the history behind them.
Magical thinking: If you speak as if something isn't there, it won't be.
Why is analytical thinking important??? Because if you use it, you will be harder to fool.
We cannot afford to believe practically everything anyone tells us.
In paganism we get most of our information from books and from our teachers.
Unfortunately, there are very few people out there willing to teach that are responsible enough to know truth from fiction. So most pagans out there are solitary and get their info from web sites and books. It is up to them and you to use your head in such matters to distinguish truth from fiction. And most books will quote other books or authors.
EXPERT...... x is an unknown quantity and spert is a drip under pressure.... so an expert is an unknown quantity of drips under pressure.... To me there is no such thing as an expert or all knowing person on any subject!! Someone may be very learned in their area of "expertise" but they do not know it all, and are still learning. If you stop learning, you are dead.
Poisoning the well: Attacking a teacher or an "expert" saying they are a bad person so should not be believed. Common example... Crowley... though I do not really like him, and think he is dark. His books are accurate for his time and belief. Though his teaching a bit dark... he is a viable author.
Informal Logic: examines the various ways that people, through voice or print, can lead others to accept their ideas whether or not there are facts to back them up.
Deductive logic is the formal organized system of logic developed by Aristotle. It arranges two true statements into a formal pattern that, when used correctly, produce a true conclusion...
Example:
All cats are mammals.
My pet Mysto is a cat.
Therefore Mysto is a mammal. (True conclusion)
But switch it around a lil........
Some mammals are cats.
My pet Mysto is a cat.
Therefore................ (You cannot come up with a logical conclusion because of the wording)
Words are magick and like all magick, they must be used with care. Not only is it important sometimes to check the dictionary definition of a word, it is important to know that a lot of words have slippery meanings, which is extremely useful to those interested in pulling a fast one. The meaning of language can also be deliberately changed using careful word choice.
When used unconsciously, ambiguous words and even more, sentences with grammar that makes them ambiguous, can be very amusing. Just on how the words are read.
On the net, where most communication is through the written word, some can misunderstand intent because they cannot hear the tone of your voice. You must remember that not all are using the talent they are given or even have the talent we do at sensing intent...
Be careful with your words!
Since we communicate, teach, live, sometimes love, practice our craft on the web, we must be aware of words and how they are used. You must develop your logical and magickal skills to attune to the play and stress of words here and every place online and irl (in real life). This is as much a necessity as breathing.
USE YOUR HEADS!!!