Apophatic science: An attempt to assist in experiencing ultimate reality by developing scientific (largely psychological/neuroscientific) insights into and models of the mental processes which inhibit this experience. Apophatic science is a complement to apophatic theology which attempts – through non-scientific means – to achieve unity with ultimate reality, by gaining knowledge of what ultimate reality is not.
Category Archives: Aphorism
”The blues is the difference between what you want and what you got” – more or less as was told to me by a Chicago Jazz musician.
The experience of name-dropping
You have a famous friend called Serena*. When you mention that “Serena is a friend of mine” in conversation, does it FEEL different when you are ‘name-dropping’ that she is your friend vs. when you merely describing that she is your friend? How does ‘name-dropping’ FEEL different from just ‘describing’?
* ‘Serena’ could also be a e.g. famous university/institution you worked at, or a noteworthy accomplishment etc.
Does ‘sorry’ mean ‘I regret causing you pain or suffering’ or does it mean ‘Please don’t disapprove of me, reject me, think I am bad, tell other people I am bad etc.’?
Generalisation temptation: The motivation or ‘temptation’ to generalise a very limited number of examples (even one) to a ‘fact’ about reality for egotistical purposes. For example – so as to feel knowledgeable, to reduce uncertainty, to impress others with your knowledge, to increase one’s confidence in making negative judgments about people/groups and so feel superior etc.
Truth is an acquired taste. Its easier to spend your whole life honing your skills in proving yourself to ‘be right’ and to put truth firmly aside. Work hard enough and you could become a Grandmaster of self-deception. But even then there will always be small gaps in your armour …
Part 2:
Truth is an acquired taste – in the same way that vulnerability is an acquired taste. Why would anyone willingly expose themselves to being wrong, again and again and again …?
“Winning does not tempt that man.
His growth is this: to be defeated
by ever greater forces.”
Rilke
Insight Junkie 