World according to Spin

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by coberst, Feb 24, 2007.

  1. coberst Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    949
    The world according to Spin

    We can study a subject of interest from a narrow or broad point of view. The points of view affect considerably our ability to comprehend reality.

    Our comprehension of a subject matter depends to a large extent upon our original assumptions. Our prism of observation is determined by our assumptions. To view reality is to establish a framework for comprehension. The frame work determines the horizon of our comprehension. Our view cannot extend beyond our initial assumptions and we cannot breach that frame work no more than we can jump out of our skins.

    The assumptions we frame our subject with can be ontological, epistemological, and social. In matters of a social nature our social assumptions are most important. We live in a social structure of positions. We are not really a collection of individuals but we are sets of positions. A social position is defined by a distinct set of patterns in relation with other patterns and relationship. An engineer is associated with other technical people generally within a large corporate structure. These associations determine many aspects of that personas existence. The same applies to the nurse, the merchant or the factory laborer. These are not chaotic willy-nilly relationships but are highly structured and are the same for almost all individuals in like working conditions.

    Because we all inhabit these general forms of structured relationships our forms of thought and our every day experiences fit within that association. Our categories of perception and thought are similar.

    Since a narrow point of view is necessarily limited by assumptions, those within that structure are unaware of the limitations. There is an inherent tendency that, despite the narrowness of view, those within the structure claim universality and claim its view as absolute.

    Spin-World is my tag for these sets of positions, which are forms of structured relationships. Some people call these ideologies; I like to call them Spin-Worlds because “the man on the street” shies away from talk about ideologies. Spin doctors are the apologists for each of these spin-worlds. We have spin doctors for each spin-world; spin-worlds such as Communism, Capitalism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Democrats, Republicans, Americans, etc. all have their apologists to praise their spin-world and to kick their opposing spin-world. Many of the members of each of these spin-worlds become mini-apologists.

    A spin-world has a dual character. It has an empirical existence in the form of its group; it has a normative existence as its group relates to the rest of society. The inside members see ‘facts’ and the outside world sees ‘norms’ emitting from the group’s apologists. The group embraces mediating concepts of human nature and condition. From these perceived human nature and conditions the spin-world deduces appropriate moral recommendations.

    Examples might be pro-choice versus pro-life, or cut-and-run versus stay-the-course-to-victory, or state owned property versus private owned property, also known as socialism versus capitalism, one might add Christianity versus Islam.

    The members of one spin-world is biased toward that world and biased against a competing spin-world. Inhabitants of spin-worlds are impatient with diversity; they consider their ‘facts’ to be universal and natural while the competitor’s ‘errors’ are a mess. Members of a spin-world are critical of other spin-worlds but are seldom critical of their own world.

    Each individual who continually lives in a particular spin-world becomes unable to perceive another world. Until members of each spin-world becomes critical of their respective worlds and thus transcend their limited view, they cannot become critical of their concept of reality and thus transcend the mess that society is in.

    A critical self-consciousness is necessary if we have any chance of changing our society to better fit our nature.

    Are you a critically self-conscious citizen who is prepared to help society to restructure itself?
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    23,053
    As I read that article, I can readily see that no one can do it until they know, for an absolute fact, the truth about every single thing in the world.

    That might be kinda' tough, don't ya' think?

    Baron Max
     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. coberst Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    949
    Baron

    What is important is that we know how we humans act as a result of our biases due to our spin-worlds. If we become critically self-conscious we can begin to control the irrational tendencies that result from these spin-worlds. We are all members of many spin-worlds and it takes some effort to recognize how they can throw us off our attempt to make rational judgments.
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    23,053
    How which humans act? And that's the problem ...they all act differently according to their lot in life. What you're suggesting is perfectly impossible for any one human to do.

    But we can't control the irrational tendencise of everyone else!! And once again, you have an insurmountable problem, even if "you" are critically self-conscious.

    And we're all different, and we all react differently to varying situations in our lives. Making a rational judgment with one individual might be just fine, but making a similar, rational judgement of, say, a murderer is quite another thing altogether!

    You're trying to lump everyone into a single catagory, then analyze various situations. Sorry, but you just can't do that.

    Baron Max
     
  8. coberst Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    949
    Baron

    Go to the books and discover there why we can make general statements about human behavior. Psychology, sociology, psychiatry, philosophy, etc. all of these sciences have been studying human action for centuries so that we can make general ststements that are an accurate representation of humanity.
     
  9. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    23,053
    Yeah, anyone can make statements about any-fuckin'-thing, but that don't make them right or correct or accurate or ....anything else! Anyone who thinks "general statements" about humans can possibly be accurate is a damned fool ....and worse, has no experience in the real world of humans.

    Ain't no general statements about human action that could possibly be considered as accurate for all humans! That's a fuckin' myth, and worse, it causes much more harm than good to human societies.

    Hitler had a lot of "general ideas" about humans, didn't he? The radical, extremist Muslims make those "general statements" about the infidels, don't they?

    Baron Max
     
  10. coberst Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    949
    Baron

    You display all the characteristics of a sophomore.
     
  11. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    23,053
    Thank you.

    But that doesn't address it points I raised, does it? Or are you just going to ignore them ......because you can't answer them????

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    Baron Max
     
  12. coberst Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    949
    Baron

    Those questions indicate that you have much reading to do.
     

Share This Page