To paraphrase Neil deGrasse Tyson; “I dream of a world where the truth is what shapes people’s beliefs rather than beliefs shaping what people THINK is true.” There is a difference between truth and meaning. There are people that would rather KNOW than THINK, establishing a certitude of ready-made beliefs instead of engaging in the hard work of critical THINKING necessary for arriving at the truth.

There are those that have a personal agenda, preexisting beliefs that oppose reality or truth so to protect themselves or promote themselves. Manipulating others preying on their desire of certitude rather than THINKING. There is a discipline of differentiating between truth and certitude.

KNOWLEDGE consists in the search for truth. It is not the search for certainty. All knowledge is uncertain, one has to be open to criticism so to discern between truth and certainty. We must always be open and take the greatest care not to be certain. Listen to other people’s perspective, search for objective truth and to eliminate any falsehoods you may possess.

A theory or a statement is true, if what it says corresponds to reality. Bertrand Russell said; “the will to doubt is our greatest self-defense against propaganda.” THINKING vs. KNOWING. There is no knowledge without rational criticism, criticism in the service of the search for truth.

Remember from a previous post; CONFIDENCE IS BELIEF IN YOURSELF, CERTAINTY IS BELIEF IN YOUR BELIEFS. BELIEF IN YOURSELF IS A BRIDGE. BELIEF IN YOUR BELIEFS IS A BARRICADE.

Categories: PERSPECTIVES Philosophical Perspective

ron winnegrad

Ron Winnegrad has been a Perfumer and teacher for 46 years. As a perfumer, Ron has been able to express the world he sees through a rainbow of olfactive and emotive visions. As a teacher, Ron has helped others to see fragrance through his own multi sensorial lens.