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X. Evaluation
Some may point out
that if one affirms an inability to know about the existence or non-existence of
a deity or deities as an agnostic
would, then healthy, agnostic, positivistic, nationalistic, spiritization of a model of
the existence of one totality may amount to nothing more than a highly speculative form of art and myth
making. Perhaps it is believed by such individuals that the practice of
healthy, agnostic, positivistic, nationalistic, spiritization may put me at a disadvantage
in an environment where mastery of truth and knowledge based on scientifically
reproducible discovery seems to be a decisive factor in determining who succeeds and
survives and who fails and is sacrificed. From the strictly materialistic point of view of
a life form born to play the dual role of predator and prey in a body-consuming biosphere,
it may seem my energy, space, and time might be better spent on studying finite truth and
knowledge of theory based on scientifically reproducible discovery then on pondering infinite divine
eternal mysteries. Suppose then that I choose to reject all myth and fantasy based on the existence of discovery and mystery. Suppose I set about to eliminate all myth and fantasy based on the existence of discovery and mystery from the model of the existence of one totality that I build in my mind to orient self towards the world and explain the world to self. Suppose I choose instead to use only finite truth and knowledge of theory based on scientifically reproducible discovery to build in my mind a model of the existence of one totality. Suppose further that I use this model of the existence of one totality to orient myself towards the world and explain the world to myself. The existence of one totality is equal to
the existence of discovery plus the existence of mystery. The existence of discovery
is equal to the sum total of all truth and knowledge of theory based
on scientifically reproducible discovery. The existence of mystery is equal to
the existence of one totality minus the existence of discovery. The existence of one totality
may be infinite. Therefore the existence of mystery may be infinite.
The existence of discovery is finite. Take any finite number to represent the existence of discovery
and divide by a number approaching infinity to represent
the existence of one totality and the result is a number-approaching zero. In other
words, quite possibly we know next to nothing about everything! As anyone
familiar with science is aware old knowledge of theory may be displaced by new
knowledge of theory. So for some to conclude that only things that scientists
can find, and only things that theories predict exist is premature to say the
least. Taking science at face value offers a rather grim model of the existence of one totality. This narrow limited point of view would lead me to conclude that our bodies are finite, fragile, and doomed to the abomination of disease and death. In my mind, the discovery of the impending disease and death of my seed body is enough to evoke powerful feelings of sorrow, fear, and anger. Without my belief in a most optimistic myth and fantasy about the existence of one totality, I would be without countervailing emotional forces of joy, faith and love. I need countervailing emotional forces of joy, faith, and love to balance my mind against emotional forces of sorrow, fear, and anger that follow from the discovery of the impending disease and death of my seed body. I think, believe, and expect that if my mind becomes unbalanced by powerful emotional forces of sorrow, fear, and anger then I would be more likely to engage in sad, mad, and bad behavior. I expect that sad, mad, and bad behavior would hinder my efforts to create and survive in a competitive body consuming biosphere divided by a primal conflict between predator and prey. Therefore from both a material and spiritual point of view, I think, believe, and expect my energy, space, and time is well spent building a model of the existence of one totality that enables me; to have the highest esteem of the existence of one totality; and thereby to produce in my mind emotional balance that is conducive to happiness and health in my life. I use a foundation of truth and knowledge of theory based on scientifically reproducible discovery to produce a standard of conduct that is most likely to result in the most powerful physiological responses of health possible. I use a most optimistic framework of myth and fantasy based on the existence of discovery and mystery that when thought, believed and expected to be true produces powerful emotional responses of joy, faith, and love; and thereby balances the powerful emotional responses of sorrow, fear and anger that follow from the discovery of the impending disease and death of my seed body. Of course, there are those who vigorously defend the idea that we are all just animals after all. To these people I say: When an argument uses valid logical deductive inferences to arrive at a conclusion, then all other possible conclusions are systematically eliminated as possibilities leaving only one definite conclusion. The idea that we are all just animals after all is one definite conclusion. Therefore this one definite conclusion must be based on an argument that uses valid logical deductive inferences to eliminate all other possibilities. The idea that we are all just animals after all requires us to eliminate all other possibilities by using of our senses and perceptions to gather objective evidence that leads by valid logical deductive inference to this one definite conclusion before we can safely conclude that this idea is true. If we cannot say that we have eliminated all other possibilities by using our senses and perceptions to gather objective evidence that leads by valid logical deductive inference to this one definite conclusion then the idea that we are all animals after all is a myth. If the idea that we are all just animals after all is a myth, then it is a lie for those who vigorously defend this idea to claim that this myth is truth. The existence of discovery and
the existence of mystery make possible an infinite number, diversity, and variety
of myths about the existence of one totality only limited by our creative abilities and powers of imagination. Why
should I choose to believe in a myth about the existence of one totality that leads me to have pessimistic
thoughts, beliefs, and expectations about self and world when I could choose to
believe in a myth about the existence of one totality that leads me; to have the most optimistic thoughts, beliefs,
and expectations about self and world?
Even if my love of
healthy, agnostic, positivistic, nationalistic, spiritization causes me to create
a model of the existence of one totality that is not in accord with actuality, at least I might have a happier
and perhaps healthier life. As mentioned previously, scientific research from a variety of
sources seems to indicate that optimistic thoughts, beliefs, and expectations about
existence influence health, health behaviors, and immune and biochemical functioning in ways
that make the body more resistant to illness and better able to recover from existing
disease. In addition, those who experience joyful emotions tend to lead better social
lives and to enjoy an improved quality of life whatever its’ longevity. |
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