Gurteen Knowledge Blog September 4, 2022, 10:35I am working on a post on so-called steelmanning for my blook. You may be familiar with the concept of a strawman argument, often referred to as a straw man. In such arguments, we are more concerned with winning the fight than getting at the truth, and we construct a … Continue reading Construct Steel Arguments Not Straw Ones We need to learn to argue more effectively
Gurteen Knowledge Blog December 7, 2022, 15:30LessWrong is an online forum and community dedicated to improving human reasoning and decision-making. We seek to hold true beliefs and to be effective at accomplishing our goals. Each day, we aim to be less wrong about the world than the day before. Credit: LessWrong Like me, you may find … Continue reading Lesswrong: Aiming to Be Less Wrong About the World Than the Day Before Improving human reasoning and decision-making
Anyone who values truth should stop worshiping reason. Credit: Jonathan Haidt Posts where this quotation is embedded Avoid Anonymity Anonymity kills the conversation Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces of data that we can take and discard at will Benjamin Franklin’s Junto Club Benjamin Franklin founded the Junto Club – a conversational society in 1727 Bridging Divides … Continue reading Anyone Who Values Truth Should Stop Worshiping Reason Jonathan Haidt (2013)
I put forward formless and unresolved notions, as do those who publish doubtful questions to debate in the schools, not to establish the truth but to seek it. Credit: Michel de Montaigne Source: The Complete Essays of MontaignePosts where this quotation is embedded Avoid Anonymity Anonymity kills the conversation Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces … Continue reading Establishing the Truth Michel de Montaigne
How your power silences truth | Megan Reitz Posts where this video is embedded Avoid Anonymity Anonymity kills the conversation Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces of data that we can take and discard at will Benjamin Franklin’s Junto Club Benjamin Franklin founded the Junto Club – a conversational society in 1727 Bridging Divides ** Conclusion: Two Pillars … Continue reading How Your Power Silences Truth Megan Reitz
Gurteen Knowledge Blog April 11, 2023, 12:15This quote from Montaigne speaks to the value of questioning and exploring ideas without being tied to a predetermined conclusion. By putting forward “formless and unresolved notions,” he suggests that we should be open to the possibility that our ideas and beliefs may not be fully formed or resolved and … Continue reading Montaigne’s Quest for Truth Michel De Montaigne
Gurteen Knowledge Blog June 27, 2023, 13:47Over 700 people receive my daily Conversational Leadership quote of the day, and nearly 3,000 subscribe to my old Gurteen.com quote of the day. Both services are free and I encourage you to register if you are interested. I frequently receive feedback from people who either dislike or disagree with … Continue reading The Best Quotations Provoke Thought and Reflection They need not be true or the author necessarily respected
Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: At the first gate, ask yourself “Is it true?” At the second gate ask, “Is it necessary?” At the third gate ask, “Is it kind?” Credit: Rumi Posts where this quotation is embedded Avoid Anonymity Anonymity kills the conversation Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces … Continue reading Before You Speak, Let Your Words Pass Through Three Gates A Sufi saying
Being truthful means honestly expressing how we perceive or feel about something, though it may not be true. Telling the truth means accurately defining or describing the way things are. Credit: David Gurteen Source: Pollution of the Global Information EcosystemPosts where this quotation is embedded Avoid Anonymity Anonymity kills the conversation Belief Systems Our beliefs are not … Continue reading Being Truthful Versus Telling the Truth David Gurteen
Gurteen Knowledge Blog January 19, 2024, 12:14This chapter, The Two Pillars of Truth, from my blook, was inspired by a talk by Peter Boghossian on the Socratic method in the Western tradition. Given my interest in science and cosmology—I have a degree in physics—and my interest in dialogue and how we form our beliefs, it’s unsurprising … Continue reading The Two Pillars of Truth The scientific method and the Socratic elenchus
video player Why do we believe things that aren’t true? | Philip Fernbach Transcript One Transcript starting at 2:10 to 3:38. (I’ve highlighted some of the text to draw attention to the more pertinent points.) As human beings, false belief is our birthright. It stems from fundamental principles that govern the way our minds work … Continue reading Why Do We Believe Things That Aren’t True? Philip Fernbach (2017)
By their openness, people dedicated to the truth live in the open, and through the exercise of their courage to live in the open, they become free from fear. Credit: Scott Peck Posts where this quotation is embedded Avoid Anonymity Anonymity kills the conversation Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces of data that we can … Continue reading People Dedicated to the Truth Live in the Open Scott Peck
No truth is without some mixture of error, and no error so false but that it possesses no element of truth. If a man is in too big a hurry to give up an error, he is liable to give up some truth with it, and in accepting the arguments of the other man he … Continue reading No Truth Is Without Some Mixture of Error by Wilbur Wright
Few things are more dangerous than people who think they’re in possession of absolute truth. Credit: Peter Boghossian People: Peter BoghossianPeter Boghossian American philosopherPosts: Peter BoghossianImpossible Conversations Navigating conversations across ideological dividesBooks: Peter BoghossianHow to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay (2019)Impossible Conversations Peter Boghossian (2019)Impossible Conversations Navigating … Continue reading Perils of Absolute Certainty Peter Boghossian
There are, in fact, four very significant stumbling blocks in the way of grasping the truth, which hinder every man however learned, and scarcely allow anyone to win a clear title to wisdom, namely, the example of weak and unworthy authority, longstanding custom, the feeling of the ignorant crowd, and the hiding of our own … Continue reading The Four Stumbling Blocks to Truth Roger Bacon
Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up in a new decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but only to supplement it. The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows: Do not feel absolutely certain of anything. Do not think … Continue reading Bertrand Russell’s Ten Commandments for Critical Thinking Bertrand Russell
There is beauty in truth, even if it’s painful. Those who lie, twist life so that it looks tasty to the lazy, brilliant to the ignorant, and powerful to the weak. But lies only strengthen our defects. They don’t teach anything, help anything, fix anything or cure anything. Nor do they develop one’s character, one’s … Continue reading There Is Beauty in Truth, Even If It’s Painful José Harris
The Socratic Elenchus The Two Pillars of Truth Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Conversational Leadership emphasizes the importance of intellectual humility and open-mindedness in discussions. Polarization and confirmation bias can stifle productive conversations on complex issues. By asking, “How could you or I be wrong?” we foster self-reflection, critical thinking, and openness to … Continue reading How Could We Be Wrong? Is a crucial question to ask in a conversation
How Could We Be Wrong? Conclusion: Two Pillars of Truth Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The pursuit of truth is a fundamental human endeavor. However, arriving at the truth can be challenging, as our beliefs and ideas may be based on flawed assumptions or lack sufficient evidence. The scientific method and the Socratic … Continue reading The Two Pillars of Truth How the scientific method and Socratic elenchus underpin civilization
The Two Pillars of Truth Introduction: Two Pillars of Truth Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter We need to recognize that the pursuit of truth and the application of rigorous critical thinking are not just intellectual exercises but moral and civic responsibilities. Engaging in open dialogue and thoughtful conversations is crucial in this process, … Continue reading Conclusion: Two Pillars of Truth Critical thinking – a civic duty
Three Forms of Reasoning: Deductive, Inductive and Abductive Attitudes Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Belief systems shape our understanding of reality. They are interconnected networks of ideas, not always accurate representations of truth. Examining and evolving our beliefs, while challenging, is crucial for personal growth and social progress. A belief system is a … Continue reading Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces of data that we can take and discard at will
What Are Morals? The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Knowledge … Knowledge Our mind contains beliefs. We don’t know how these beliefs are stored, but it does not matter for my purposes here. One point to note, though, is that beliefs are not stored in the form of … Continue reading Knowledge and Information ** Knowledge and information are different substances
Eat with Others Ask Questions ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Construct steel positions: We often employ a straw position to help win a disagreement when we should use a steel one. Straw Positions You may be familiar with the concept of a strawman position, often referred to as a straw man. To … Continue reading Construct Steel Positions Not Straw Ones We need to learn to argue more effectively to get at the truth
The Mind Is a Fire to Be Kindled The Fourth Industrial Revolution Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order to reply? Or do we listen to discover something new? Do we enter into a conversation with a willingness to learn … Continue reading Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order to reply?
Show Respect Listen to Ignite Thinking Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Tell the truth: Everyone lies. Some big lies, some small lies. Most of the time, individual lies do not matter; they are small and inconsequential. But larger, more public, persistent lies distort our view of the world and are dangerous. Many people … Continue reading Tell the Truth Lies distort the world