Questioning in the Age of Misinformation

Questioning. Possibly the most important task of the populace, and simultaneously it’s single greatest failure. There are many reasons for why this problem exists, but before we get to the causes of this catastrophic failure, let’s take a moment to underline why this is a failure in the first place.

As a society, we have a fundamental obligation to question people, ideas, information, and ways of thinking. There is nothing noble, righteous, or inherently good about unquestioning respect for, or faith in any of those things. Rational thought, reason, and evidence, are the only solid building blocks of a truly functional and future minded society. As such, a critical component to choosing decision makers and the power we allow them to have over our lives is to question them and each other. Why each other as well? Because inevitably there will be disagreement. True resolution of disagreement can only happen through compromise, and meaningful compromise can only happen when there is understanding.

We have to question people's claims no matter who they are or what they are saying. Not questioning claims that are obvious nonsense leads to people believing nonsensical things because someone who should be, and possibly is knowledgeable on the topic, lied. Conversely, claims that are not nonsense need to be questioned to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Knowledge without understanding is a form of ignorance. Simply "believing" something to be true, no matter how strongly you wish it to be, is willful ignorance and serves no useful purpose in this world.

That is the underlying assumption of my initial statement. So, what are some of the causal factors that have led to where we are now? Here are the top three as I see them.

1. A significant lack of questioning from the populace of the people in power, the people who want to be in power, and the corporate elite. 
2. The willingness most people have to accept meaningless, nonsense answers to the questions that actually are asked.
3. The anger exhibited by many when the first answer given is rejected by the questioner, and a follow-up question is subsequently asked. 

For me, when the opportunity arises to have an actual conversation with someone, the ideal version consists of meaningful topics being discussed, any disagreements are respectful, and the path of the conversation simply flows through a landscape of ideas like a river. After a conversation like that, I always come away with a better understanding of not only the person with whom I’ve just connected, but of myself as well. Even when information garnered from an exchange forces changes you did not anticipate making, the experience is one of joy. Joy over the evolution of the mind, and the meaningful connection made with another human.

What scares most people about that type of experience is one simple fact. Certainty of one's beliefs without evidence, also know as delusion, is hard to let go. A long held delusion isn’t so only because of it’s meaning to the individual, or because it is likely how they were taught to be. It is held so tight primarily out of fear. Specifically, the fear of losing the comfort provided by those who share in the same delusion. For many, this seems too much to bare, and in current times that may actually be true. But there are those like myself, who feel that the weight of the delusion itself, the stifling of reason, rational civil discourse, and understanding, is far too much to bare. And that the harm it is causing in our world today is demanding we change.

That is why questioning is the single most important responsibility of all of us, and as of this time in our short history on this Earth, our greatest failure.

Tags: #questions #questioning #reason #rationalthought #delusion #fear #failure #beliefs #civildiscourse #evolution #politics #DonaldTrump #HillaryClinton #election2016 #America #Americans #skepticism #humanism #atheism #atheist

Why Am I Here?

It’s a simple question, but one that many people ask, then try to answer with religion. The problem is, if people are honest with themselves religion does not provide a satisfying answer. For this reason, I have seen many people floundering in the difficult moments of life, I know I have, looking for an answer to this question or one similar to it, even when they had previously known the answer.

As I said, it’s a simple question and, in the absence of all external factors including religion, it’s an easy one to answer. I am here to leave this world a better place than it would have been without me. Whatever I do, wherever I go, whoever I meet, my presence was meaningless if my actions don’t leave that place or those people at least slightly better for me having been there. Sometimes that “better” might just be that someone walked away from a conversation feeling like I really listened to them and showed them respect. Maybe it’s just a smile flashed at someone who needed something positive to happen. Whatever “better” means in the moment, to me it means I tried. I don’t always succeed. In fact I fail often, but I reflect on my mistakes, and keep trying.

One form of “better” that it is sometimes hard for people to understand is when standing for a cause puts you at opposition to strongly held belief(s) of others. However, if the cause is firmly rooted in factual evidence and reason, and humanity would be better for the change that could result, then it’s worth maintaining and expressing a dissenting opinion. Exposing yourself to dissent is most assuredly a means by which a better you can be found.

The point is this: I live for now. The path I leave behind will last a lot longer than my personal timeline on this Earth, and if I’m focused on my own death then my now is left lacking. My path and how I act as I walk it now are my legacy. Therefore it’s my moral obligation to make sure that I’m not living for personal glory after death, but for the betterment of those that happen to cross my path while I’m here.

Tags: #meaningoflife #life #questions #purpose #meaning #religion #atheism