It seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great openness to new ideas … If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you … On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of skeptical sense in you, then you cannot distinguish the useful ideas from the worthless ones. ;)
Corina Marinescu And that's where it gets interesting, is it purposeful to distinguish between the useful ideas from the worthless ones? I believe the feeling of sensation; or a lack thereof, will rule the "worthless" ones out, no? Usually what is not needed in the moment is not there.
This is true!
ReplyDeleteI really wish there were more people that thought along these lines in our society and in my profession. :(
ReplyDeleteIt is important to question things, even your own beliefs, since it is not possible to be right all of the time
ReplyDeletePerhaps it feels comforting, but I do believe demanding evidence is utopia; I believe any new invention can not be proven until it has matured.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great openness to new ideas … If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you … On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of skeptical sense in you, then you cannot distinguish the useful ideas from the worthless ones. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo, in other words, like many things, both 'in moderation'
ReplyDeleteCorina Marinescu And that's where it gets interesting, is it purposeful to distinguish between the useful ideas from the worthless ones? I believe the feeling of sensation; or a lack thereof, will rule the "worthless" ones out, no? Usually what is not needed in the moment is not there.
ReplyDeleteBS detector advice from Sagan http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/03/baloney-detection-kit-carl-sagan/
ReplyDelete