FEATURE ARTICLES. CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING. FIGHTING THE WRONG BATTLES. PT 1.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING ARE NOT THE SAME, BUT ARE OFTEN USED INTERCHANGEABLY. FOR OUR PURPOSE, BOTH WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS ARTICLE.)

                                                                                                                       

 

IT IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT THE REAL REASON THAT THESE TOPICS CAUSE SO MUCH CONTROVERSY IS TWO-FOLD:

 -  MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD,

THIS INCLUDES BOTH POLITICIANS AND VOTERS.

The Scientific Method, and what makes it a Valuable Tool, is sometimes not presented in a way that sets it apart from those Opinions that are Derived from MINDSETS That Are Essentially Useless, when discussing Phenomena that Occurs in Nature.

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO USE THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

First and Foremost, THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IS NOT A SET OF BELIEFS, WITH A DOCTRINE THAT PASSES JUDGMENT ON A CATEGORY OR SUBJECT, LABELING THEM AS EITHER SCIENTIFIC OR UNSCIENTIFIC.

Like the RULES OF LOGIC AND MATHEMATICS, THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IS A PROCESS, THAT LEADS TO ANSWERS AND CONCLUSIONS THAT EITHER DEFINITIVELY EXPLAIN THE EVIDENCE, DATA AND INFORMATION PROVIDED, OR OFFERS HYPOTHESES THAT POINT OR DIRECT US TO THE MOST PROBABLE SOLUTIONS.

We do not use the Scientific Method to Evaluate Subjects, that by Definition, do not rely on LOGIC OR EVIDENCE-BASED MATERIAL TO BE ACCEPTED AS TRUTHFUL, SUCH AS RELIGIOUS FAITH OR OTHER SUPERNATURAL  SYSTEMS OF BELIEF.

-  DISCUSSING OR DEBATING THE PROBLEM OFTEN MISSES THE POINT.

When you DISCUSS OR DEBATE ANY SUBJECT, THERE ARE CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET, OR THE RESULT WILL BE ESSENTIALLY USELESS.

SEE PART 2.  

LOGIC. WHY SHOULD WE STUDY LOGIC? PT 3. SEEING PEOPLE AND THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE.

RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL FAITH.

MIRACULOUS EVENTS.

SUPERNATURAL BEINGS.

RELIGIOUS TEXTS ETC.

Are not considered to be Included in the Realm of THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, (WHICH BY NECESSITY, INCLUDES THE RULES OF LOGIC), BECAUSE THE BELIEF IN THEIR TRUTH OR REALITY DOES NOT REQUIRE EVIDENCE, OR ANY KIND OF JUSTIFICATION THROUGH INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY.

If One Reads the CHRISTIAN BIBLE, THE TORAH, THE KORAN etc,, the Interpretation or Meaning is left to those who study the CONTENTS, IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW IT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THEIR PARTICULAR FAITH.  SCIENCE, AND THE RULES OF LOGIC, DO NOT COME INTO THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE FAITH ALLOWS FOR CONTRADICTIONS, MIRACULOUS EVENTS, DIVINE INTERVENTION, AND OTHER CLAIMS, WHICH BY DEFINITION, DO NOT REQUIRE PROOF TO THOSE WHO ACCEPT THEIR REALITY.

IN OTHER WORDS:  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ARGUE THAT SOMETHING EXISTS OR DOESN'T EXIST, OR , AN EVENT OCCURRED OR DIDN'T OCCUR, IF THE BELIEVER WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY EXPLANATION, PROOF, OR CONCLUSION THAT CONTRADICTS THEIR FAITH.  THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN:

THE NATURAL WORLD-  WHERE REALITY CAN BE EXAMINED, TESTED, STUDIED AND UNDERSTOOD BY THE HUMAN MIND.

THE SUPERNATURAL WORLD-  A HYPOTHETICAL REALM THAT EXISTS APART FROM THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE, AND IS NOT BOUND BY ITS LAWS.

THERE IS NO INHERENT PROBLEM IN BELIEVING THAT EACH CAN EXIST, IF YOU THEM SET APART, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD PROPERLY, BY ATTEMPTING TO MEASURE THE EXISTENCE OF EACH BY PROPERTIES THAT CANNOT, BY DEFINITION, BE FOUND IN BOTH.

THE TRUE ENEMIES OF RELIGION AND SCIENCE, ARE THOSE WHO TRY TO FORCE THEIR "FAITH" ON OTHERS, BY CLAIMING THAT THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD "PROVES" THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM.

HOWEVER, IT WON'T WORK.  YOU CAN'T BEND, CHANGE, OR ALTER PHYSICAL LAWS TO ADAPT TO YOUR DESIRED CONCLUSION.  YOU MAKE YOURSELF SOUND DESPERATE, AND DESTROY THE VERY OF ESSENCE AND FOUNDATION OF "RELIGIOUS FAITH".

LOGIC. WHY SHOULD WE STUDY LOGIC? PART 2. SEEING PEOPLE AND THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE.

                                                                            

Now you may be Thinking, "If LOGIC IS SO IMPORTANT, WHY DON'T THEY TEACH IT AT AN EARLY AGE, AND HOW COME SO FEW PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE REALMS OF SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY KNOW SO LITTLE ABOUT THE SUBJECT?"

Because LOGIC, WHEN STUDIED AND USED PROPERLY, IS THE ULTIMATE "REALITY SHOW."  EVEN SOME OF THOSE IN OCCUPATIONS DEDICATED TO LEARNING AND APPLYING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, WILL ABANDON IT WHEN IT COMES TO SITUATIONS OUTSIDE THEIR CHOSEN FIELD.

WHY?

-  LOGIC IS A TOOL, NOT A SET OF BELIEFS.

-  LOGIC DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE.  EITHER YOUR 

ARGUMENT IS PROPERLY STRUCTURED AND VALID,

OR IT ISN'T, AND THE TRUTH OF YOUR CONCLUSION

RELIES ON THE PREMISES.

-  ALL ASSERTIONS MUST BE DEFENDED, NOTHING

IS ACCEPTED AT FACE VALUE.

-  IF YOUR PREMISES ARE UNSUPPORTABLE, THAN 

YOUR CONCLUSION IS VALUELESS.

HOW DOES THIS TRANSLATE TO REAL LIFE SITUATIONS?

LOGIC SHINES A LIGHT ON;

-  PREJUDICE.

-  PRECONCEIVED CONCLUSIONS.

-  IRRATIONAL LINES OF THOUGHT.

-  UNJUSTIFIED DECISIONS THAT HIGHLIGHT 

   A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND IGNORANCE  

   OF THE SUBJECT MATTER.

In other words;

All the RHETORIC, LIP SERVICE, AND NEWS

BITES IN THE WORLD ABOUT EQUALITY, JUSTICE

RIGHTS, etc., will mean nothing if they cannot stand up

to the Scrutiny of APPLIED LOGIC.

LOGIC DOES NOT FOCUS ON WHAT YOU 

BELIEVE TO BE TRUE...

...BUT WHY YOU BELIEVE IT.

LOGIC. WHY SHOULD WE STUDY LOGIC? PART 1.

I realize that many of us grew up watching STAR TREK Reruns, fascinated by the MR. SPOCK Character, who Obeys and Lives according to a Strict Adherence to the RULES OF LOGIC.  In Recent Television History, we have the Cast of "THE BIG BANG THEORY" to carry on this fine Tradition of Using Reasoning Skills to Entertain.  

Unfortunately, far to many fans of both shows have missed the EDUCATIONAL, PRAGMATIC, AND HUMANITARIAN USES THAT THE DISCIPLINE OF LOGIC CAN TEACH US, ABOUT SOLVING EVERYDAY PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR IN THE REAL WORLD.  IN FACT, WITHOUT THE DISCIPLINE OF LOGIC, OUR WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS PLACE, WITH THE SURVIVAL OF HUMANITY BEING AN EXTREMELY TENUOUS PROSPECT.

WHY?
EITHER CONSCIOUSLY OR UNCONSCIOUSLY, WHETHER IT IS DEVELOPED OR EXPANDED EVEN FURTHER THROUGH CLASSWORK OR THE WORK FORCE, HAVING A MINIMAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISCIPLINE IS A NECESSITY.  UNFORTUNATELY, ITS POTENTIAL TO HAVE A GREATER POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL, OR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, HAS BEEN WOEFULLY NEGLECTED.

       

       - IT IS PERHAPS THE FIRST MENTAL PROCESS THAT WE USE AND DEVELOP
        AFTER BIRTH.

      - EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND US DEPENDS

        UPON USING THE RULES OF LOGIC PROPERLY.

     

      - WE COULD NOT LIVE PRACTICAL AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES WITHOUT

        FOLLOWING AND UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR PROPER REASONING SKILLS,
        FOR WHICH LOGIC IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF.

         

      -  REAL PROBLEMS ENSUE WHEN PEOPLE FAIL TO OBEY THE RULES OF LOGIC IN
         EVERY DAY SITUATIONS.

HUMAN BEINGS HAVE DEVELOPED, THROUGH EVOLUTION, A UNIQUE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND THEM.  HOWEVER, IT TAKES DISCIPLINE AND INTELLECTUAL INSIGHT TO USE THIS ABILITY TO OBTAIN OPTIMAL BENEFITS.

See Part 2.