I think if we can embrace the following two principles for critical/important decisions, we can make better decisions and move beyond reliance on experts and media that often present ideas as indisputable facts:
I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong. If we will only allow that, as we progress, we remain unsure, we will leave opportunities for alternatives. We will not become enthusiastic for the fact, the knowledge, the absolute truth of the day, but remain always uncertain … In order to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar. - Richard P. Feynman
And
The Royal Society's motto is "Nullius in verba," which means "Take nobody's word for it." This motto emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and verification.
Adopting uncertainty and questioning accepted truths fosters critical thinking. This approach encourages us to challenge our sacred cows and pave the way for genuine progress. It also enables us to explore diverse perspectives and develop more robust solutions.
Moreso, I am going to skip butchering anything and walk away. To where? I'll use that collection of seeds I have gathered while looking at the cow and find the correct type of fertile ground in which to plant and tend them as they grow. Why? Because the cow is an herbivore and also must eat. Ahhh coffee, the dark of an Autumn morning, and philosophical metaphors. Lovely!
The consequence of monocrop farming to produce that many plant calories would dwarf anything cows or chickens produce. Plus the long term health problems with vegan are legion.
That is quite a bit of misinformation. It is a sacred cow to many people. Anti vegan misinformation. The balance lies in the middle somewhere. I held this very same Sacred Cow myself, once upon a time.
I went vegetarian some time ago. It was helpful for my health, my bank account, and the planet all at once. Myco proteins are my own personal jam. If you ever see a product called Meati, grab a package and cook as directed. If you didn't KNOW it wasn't chicken or steak, you wouldn't know. Small ingredient list that doesn't include major allergens. The topic really is a Sacred Cow topic. One that most folk (including me until I decided to refuse to let it be one) will bias themselves backward over. Much like a persons religious views or lack thereof. It is so easy to do. There is so much passionate science that is actually media influence on both "sides" of the issue.
As I've gotten older, I've eaten a lot less red meat. Sacred cow burgers are among my favorite foods for thought, as I'm sure you know!
You're right about not automatically dismantling a good system that has been in place, though. Sometimes those cows are serving some kind of useful purpose, but more often than not, you're way better off just unshackling and untethering yourself from those views. As a child, I didn't really know how to eat these burgers, but then I got my fill from around age 17 through like 33 or 34, maybe. That was A LOT for me.
Since then, I've been steadily trying to find the right balance, and I've finally begun to understand that I don't have to tear it all down myself.
Great points and totally agree. I've always been a bit more conservative than 'burn it all down.' but sometimes we need to understand what to burn down and how to build a pitchfork and torch wielding mass and do it together. 😆
The approach I try to take, though not always well, is to try and figure out why I have an opinion on a specific topic. Is this based on a few headlines I’ve read, or is it because of personal experience or research I have done? Sometimes the opinion can feel like a strong conviction from either origination, but if I realize the opinion is based on just what someone else said, I probably am more willing to consider a different view.
I 100% agree and I like how you specify 'though not always well' because I feel the same way too. I just ran into that the other day where I realized I was doing something I know to not work the way I'd want. It's so easy to fall into the 'easy' path.
I am convinced that it is necessary to kill some sacred cows. But one of them is to believe that all of them deserve to die. Chesterton saw this very well: Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up.
I think if we can embrace the following two principles for critical/important decisions, we can make better decisions and move beyond reliance on experts and media that often present ideas as indisputable facts:
I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong. If we will only allow that, as we progress, we remain unsure, we will leave opportunities for alternatives. We will not become enthusiastic for the fact, the knowledge, the absolute truth of the day, but remain always uncertain … In order to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar. - Richard P. Feynman
And
The Royal Society's motto is "Nullius in verba," which means "Take nobody's word for it." This motto emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and verification.
Adopting uncertainty and questioning accepted truths fosters critical thinking. This approach encourages us to challenge our sacred cows and pave the way for genuine progress. It also enables us to explore diverse perspectives and develop more robust solutions.
I like both of those principles a lot. They are good reminders to keep ourselves open to new information.
I think Albert Einstien (if he said this) was right, as I have reached the same conclusion:
“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.”
Or
A version from Aristotle:
"The more you know, the more you realize you don't know".
100%. It's a view that I call "embracing my white belt."
https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/embracing-my-white-belt
Moreso, I am going to skip butchering anything and walk away. To where? I'll use that collection of seeds I have gathered while looking at the cow and find the correct type of fertile ground in which to plant and tend them as they grow. Why? Because the cow is an herbivore and also must eat. Ahhh coffee, the dark of an Autumn morning, and philosophical metaphors. Lovely!
probably better for the planet to become vegan - if only I didn't enjoy chicken so much
The consequence of monocrop farming to produce that many plant calories would dwarf anything cows or chickens produce. Plus the long term health problems with vegan are legion.
That is quite a bit of misinformation. It is a sacred cow to many people. Anti vegan misinformation. The balance lies in the middle somewhere. I held this very same Sacred Cow myself, once upon a time.
Exactly!
I went vegetarian some time ago. It was helpful for my health, my bank account, and the planet all at once. Myco proteins are my own personal jam. If you ever see a product called Meati, grab a package and cook as directed. If you didn't KNOW it wasn't chicken or steak, you wouldn't know. Small ingredient list that doesn't include major allergens. The topic really is a Sacred Cow topic. One that most folk (including me until I decided to refuse to let it be one) will bias themselves backward over. Much like a persons religious views or lack thereof. It is so easy to do. There is so much passionate science that is actually media influence on both "sides" of the issue.
Great job in naming all the evil institutions that are protected by the even more evil government! Love your essays!
Thanks!
As I've gotten older, I've eaten a lot less red meat. Sacred cow burgers are among my favorite foods for thought, as I'm sure you know!
You're right about not automatically dismantling a good system that has been in place, though. Sometimes those cows are serving some kind of useful purpose, but more often than not, you're way better off just unshackling and untethering yourself from those views. As a child, I didn't really know how to eat these burgers, but then I got my fill from around age 17 through like 33 or 34, maybe. That was A LOT for me.
Since then, I've been steadily trying to find the right balance, and I've finally begun to understand that I don't have to tear it all down myself.
Great points and totally agree. I've always been a bit more conservative than 'burn it all down.' but sometimes we need to understand what to burn down and how to build a pitchfork and torch wielding mass and do it together. 😆
I was born with a heavy respect for institutions, for what it's worth, and was only able to modify my view through drastic measures: becoming a punk.
It worked, and I am grateful for that.
I was born with my middle finger up. 🤣👊🏼
The approach I try to take, though not always well, is to try and figure out why I have an opinion on a specific topic. Is this based on a few headlines I’ve read, or is it because of personal experience or research I have done? Sometimes the opinion can feel like a strong conviction from either origination, but if I realize the opinion is based on just what someone else said, I probably am more willing to consider a different view.
I 100% agree and I like how you specify 'though not always well' because I feel the same way too. I just ran into that the other day where I realized I was doing something I know to not work the way I'd want. It's so easy to fall into the 'easy' path.
The 'easy' path is definitely more comfortable, so it takes getting used to being uncomfortable sometimes!
I am convinced that it is necessary to kill some sacred cows. But one of them is to believe that all of them deserve to die. Chesterton saw this very well: Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up.
Exactly. I Iove Chesterton's Fence. I talk about this regarding traditions being solutions to problems we've forgotten:
https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/tradition
So many sacred cows out there!
Yes there are.