Kamerynn wrote:
I haven't read the piece by Austin; what would he say about (certain instances of) self-deception? Suppose someone proclaims that they're going to quit smoking (I'm not sure about them doing it "happily" but suppose they're determined and, for all intents and purposes, they have a positive outlook on that decision). Suppose they fail, as they often do. None the less, they truly believe that "this is the time," despite how many times that notion has failed them in the past.

Minyun wrote:
This one is close to me, if you must, please forgive my passion.

Truth should be renamed belief.

If it were possible, that every human on the earth could believe the same thing, we would definately have found truth. Alas, we are individuals with our own ideas. I've often wondered what the solution to this 'truth' problem would be, generally when I am perplexed by such a problem as this (one without solutions) I assert that there really should not be any problem in the first place, for it is unsolvable.

It is like wondering what the problem with water is? When really there is no problem, we have just turned it into one. We cannot change the worlds people to our ways of thinking, but what we can do is accept this principle, that the truth in something is simply a belief. We are all believers in our own truths, but we are still primitive in the way that we let our beliefs/truths compete against each other, because we desire property in this universe, i.e. the more people that see things as I do will bring me more property of what is mine, it is fueled by greed. (we will say that this adversity inspires progress in our species, because this is the only way forward that we can see due to history) however I think there is a balance to made here, too much adversity and one could quickly start moving backwards on the progressive scale.

The problem is competition, it has provided well for millenia, in order that we are not just another species on this rock then we must indeed take it to the next level.

In my opinion Evolutions major goal is to work its way out of competition, much like the lotus lilly. Accept that your truths are simply beliefs, understand that there are others like you and love will flourish and those affected would have found truth. This is my understanding of this problem and a viable solution out of it.

I don't come here to compete in idle banter, I come here to tell you that it is killing us. The time fast approaches when governments philosophies will differ on something possibly as arbitrary as the 'truth', many lives will be lost, by then it will be too late. Examples of destructive argumentative behaviour on 'truth', are strewn on this forum if you care for evidence.

Changing the worlds attitude starts with you.

Banno wrote:

A pleasure to hear from you.

Banno wrote:
Austin wanted to examine such instances, instead of pretending, as much of philosophy did, that statements were all that was important. But I am not sure that what you describe is actually a self-deception, if the person involved truly believes that this is the time. Self-deception involves one part of the self being convinced, while the other connives.