The Perfect Reason:The Perfect Justification...

[Voidmatrix]

...doesn't exist.

For any valid argument there's always an equally valid counter-argument.

In my neurosis in bringing myself to do psychedelics, I keep grasping for an inarguable motive, reason, and justification for my use (as if I am required to justify it to anyone but myself), one that withstands absolute scrutiny... isn't that cute.

My own positioning in certain conceptual affairs sometimes makes me too effective at developing counter-arguments against myself.

I have a long list if purposes and intents and foci and goals with respect to psychedelics. On one hand, I find them [intents, foci, goals] wholesome, thoughtful, directed, incisive, fulfilling, potentially enlightening, and true to me. But I always wonder, "am I deluding myself?"

I'm a silly goose.

Trust myself. Lighten up. Ensnare my neuroses. Seek inner validation.

If this is you, with an open heart, I encourage the same: trust yourself. Lighten up, Ensnare your obstacles. Seek inner validation.



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[fathomlessness]

For any valid argument there's always an equally valid counter-argument.

Actually, thats not true... at least in logic.

If A is true then B is true.
A is true.
Therefore B is true.

This is deductive reasoning, it is called modus ponens

But I take your further point. All reasoning only gets you so far till you reach the end of logic and your wit. To quote Shakespeare: "These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights That give a name to every fixed star Have no more profit of their shining nights Than those that walk and wot not what they are". Basically saying, all the scientists and philosophers who give a name to everything and only reason have no more fulfillment at the end of the day than the animals that walk and don't even know what they are.

Alan watts used to say something like "Reasoned thoughts are a good slave but a bad master". Chances are the entire thing is a delusion. The approach then? To simply know enough to feel fulfilled and in balance. To not have too much cognitive dissonance as to forget the mystery. As another member on here said recently "What's really interesting is the mystery. If you seek the mystery instead of the answer, you'll always be seeking. I've never seen anybody really find the answer. They think they have, so they stop thinking. But the job is to seek mystery, evoke mystery, plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom. The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer."

 

[Voidmatrix]

For any valid argument there's always an equally valid counter-argument.

Actually, thats not true... at least in logic.

If A is true then B is true.
A is true.
Therefore B is true.

This is deductive reasoning, it is called modus ponens

But I take your further point. All reasoning only gets you so far till you reach the end of logic and your wit. To quote Shakespeare: "These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights That give a name to every fixed star Have no more profit of their shining nights Than those that walk and wot not what they are". Basically saying, all the scientists and philosophers who give a name to everything and only reason have no more fulfillment at the end of the day than the animals that walk and don't even know what they are.

Alan watts used to say something like "Reasoned thoughts are a good slave but a bad master". Chances are the entire thing is a delusion. The approach then? To simply know enough to feel fulfilled and in balance. To not have too much cognitive dissonance as to forget the mystery. As another member on here said recently "What's really interesting is the mystery. If you seek the mystery instead of the answer, you'll always be seeking. I've never seen anybody really find the answer. They think they have, so they stop thinking. But the job is to seek mystery, evoke mystery, plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom. The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer."

You're correct in regards to truth value, but I was speaking about validity and validity alone, which is more about "proper" argument form.

All the same thank you. This came about as a result of noticing how, with psychedelics, I don't feel "justified" with myself, and have questioned myself a bit too far.

And since you seem keen on philosophy you might enjoy this.

And I am certainly with you on the mystery sentiment. Hence my love of skepticism. That said, smoalk more: twisted:

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[fink]

In the end everything is just an experience and there is no justification for any of it. Why smell a flower? Why talk to another? Why jump into the water? Why even bother to wake up for another day?

Experience, awareness, can be a gift or a curse dependant on how we colour it in. But we have been given the crayons for whatever reason. So colour away without regard or a need for justification. Go outside the lines if you want. Eat the crayons if you prefer. The potential for conflict is all around and often unavoidable. Don't fight with yourself.

 

[Voidmatrix]

In the end everything is just an experience and there is no justification for any of it. Why smell a flower? Why talk to another? Why jump into the water? Why even bother to wake up for another day?

Experience, awareness, can be a gift or a curse dependant on how we colour it in. But we have been given the crayons for whatever reason. So colour away without regard or a need for justification. Go outside the lines if you want. Eat the crayons if you prefer. The potential for conflict is all around and often unavoidable. Don't fight with yourself.

Well said fink! And thank you.

I will say, that while I may have felt that this fight has been with myself in the past, the true opponent is my thought-hijacking depression. It's refreshing to realize this.

And this idea around justification doesn't really fit me or my personal philosophies, like my skepticism thread where I call into question justifications for knowledge! I guess I got kind of lost along the way (in attempts at being too considerate in general), felt silly about it, and have grown from it.

When we don't appeal to a paradigm, necessitating justification becomes pointless. So just be and again, smoalk moar

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[fink]

Yes! Smoalk moar.

I battle also with depression since early teens, not permanent but definitely multiple prolonged chapters. I've never been diagnosed as I am too lazy to visit doctors. I've been once since adulthood and that was because my friend shot a .22 pellet into my hand by mistake. But depressive episodes have definitely been a part of my life. Addictions also, most notably cannabis for 15 years. Amazing medicine, but I abused it and created an unhealthy relationship with it.

Forgive me, I'm off on a tangent already.

But I think my point was meant to be that it's easy for me to reply and say clever words about crayons when it's someone else's life in discussion. I definitely dont have all the answers for my own mess



Perhaps you've expressed it elsewhere that I missed. But could you highlight for my benefit any of the reasons why you should not take a trip when you feel like it?

 

[Voidmatrix]

I battle also with depression since early teens, not permanent but definitely multiple prolonged chapters. I've never been diagnosed as I am too lazy to visit doctors. I've been once since adulthood and that was because my friend shot a .22 pellet into my hand by mistake. But depressive episodes have definitely been a part of my life. Addictions also, most notably cannabis for 15 years. Amazing medicine, but I abused it and created an unhealthy relationship with it.

Forgive me, I'm off on a tangent already.

I enjoy when a thread moves organically, especially ones that I begin, so feel free to share whatever you like

And thank you for sharing as well. It's a highly nuanced and complex topic, and the more that share, the more that can understand.

But I think my point was meant to be that it's easy for me to reply and say clever words about crayons when it's someone else's life in discussion. I definitely dont have all the answers for my own mess

I thought it was a fun analogy and helpful. While I think justifications are beneficial in aiding in thoughtful approaches to things, it, like many other things for me, went a bit too far. Been noticing a lot of "too much of a good thing" in many regards lately.

Perhaps you've expressed it elsewhere that I missed. But could you highlight for my benefit any of the reasons why you should not take a trip when you feel like it?

I've talked about this in a few threads, starting with this one.

Have a great day. I need to finish getting ready for work

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