-Caveat Lector- The problem with dualism For such a simple philosophy, very little is popularly known or understood about a doctrine which virtually governs all current political and social thinking. We have somehow given ourselves to be bound by the idea that everything in life is an "either-or" proposition; that there is, in all the uiverse, only two fundamental possibilities or choices. In politics, we are given the choice of Republican or Democrat; in society, the choices are either conformity or rebellion; and in religion, the choice is good or evil. There is no "in-between" in any category. Strangely enough, in psychology, such a notion is usually the pentiant of the adolescent developmental stage and is aptly named "concretistic thinking." Within the mind of a person so "uniquely" afflicted, everything is reduced to "black or white" or good or evil." So, what is this otherwise esoteric notion and why has it been given near absolute reign over the individual and collective mind of the human species? Webster's dictionary defines dualism as: 1 : a theory that considers reality to consist of two irreducible elements or modes. 2 : the quality or state of being dual or of having a dual nature 3 a : a doctrine that the universe is under the dominion of two opposing principles one of which is good and the other evil b : a view of human beings as constituted of two irreducible elements (as matter and spirit) As this definition illustrates, the doctrine of dualism is philosophically confining. There is no room for a third alternative within the despotic reign of the doctrine of dualism. Never mind that the universe itself provides silent testimony to the folly of dualism, to decide or believe in the possibility of a third or even fourth alternative to any situation or problem is heresy. Wanna take this theory on a test drive? Go to your church and declare that you are no longer willing to be a pawn in a chess game between God and Satan. Tell them that, from this point on, you resolve to be an autonomous being in your part of the cosmose, and that YOU shall decide routinely between good, evil, or cold objectivity (or any combination thereof) as it suits your existential needs. OK, now that you have been ex-communicated, move on to the realm of politics. Propose to your existing party leadership that you have decided that a hybridized form of capitalism and communism is in the best interest of your country and that you want to establish a new party which reflects your views. If you are not jailed for sedition or otherwise committed to re-education in one of our fine mental health facilities, next, try the concept of omni-choice autonomy out on society at large. Decide that you will follow the rules or invent your own as your own moral reasoning dictates. A caveat: you have multiple examples of what the price for independent moral reasoning may be within the social see; Hitler and Charles Manson are certainly two examples, but let's not forget that Jesus Christ and Ghandi fall into this category as well. Still, the burning question remains. Why do we wilingly enslave ourselves by accepting a philosophy which even the more erudite among us insists is errant, negative, and even dangerous the the collective and individual good? I vote for intellectual laziness as opposed to the dualistic second alternative of its basis in reality--but then perhaps I'm being retentively dualistic :-). Edward ><+> ============================================ "From the rage of today's downtrodden comes the revenge of tomorrow's revolutionary force. " Edward Britton ><+> http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5285/connector1.html Reality Pump: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/Reality_Pump2 ============================================ DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
