[extropy-chat] examples of rational irrationalism

[Thomas]

Jef Allbright wrote:

>[ . . . ] although I prefer to use the phrase "increasing context" with
>regard to awareness, interpretation, meaning and decision-making, and
>"increasing scope" with regard to interactions, effects, consequences,
>etc.
>
>Once you get familiar with the idea that assessment of rationality
>necessarily implies a context, and that assessment of morality necessary
>implies an increasing context and scope, then you come to the
>interesting observation that all subjective contexts are necessarily
>incomplete, i.e. subsumed within a greater context of potential (future)
>awareness, leading to the idea of an arrow of increasing -- what? --
>similar to the statistical arrow of time observed in classical
>thermodynamics.
>
><appearance_of_arrogance>
>For those who are interested enough to think through the preceding, the
>next likely stumbling block in the train of thought has to do with
>remembering that all assessments are necessarily subjective, but that
>they tend toward increasing objectivity as they are tested via
>interaction within increasing scope of reality.
>
>A result of such thinking is clear resolution of such so-called
>paradoxes as "free-will" and "meaning of life", but you give up any
>belief in an intrinsic Self in the process.
></appearance_of_arrogance>
>
>- Jef
>  
>
I suppose your " -- what? -- " could be consciousness.  In the stillness 
of meditation I've allowed assessment and a lot of other rational games 
to very nearly cease.  The "arrow of time" became more of a sphere, an 
expanded point, a big moment, where causes and effects were hardly 
dislocated.  Sidestepping meaning, decision and judgment weakened the 
sense of self, but greatly expanded the objective scope of reality. 
 Coming back to subjective assessment felt like a flood of insults, but 
my sense of free will and responsibility was boosted.  It seems to me 
some things go beyond the rational, but are yet consistent with it, only 
in a larger paradigm.  <appearance of humiliy>  -- Thomas

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