In a message dated 95-12-17 15:41:30 EST, you write:
>I don't agree, given my paradigm, that there is the gift of choice.
>Because I am the prisoner of my paradigm and know it, it doesn't mean I
>can escape any more than a real prisoner can will himself out of a real
>prison. We cannot choose what paradigm we will believe. You cannot will
>yourself to understand something differently from how you understand it
>right now.
I think I'll take up the counter to that, John.
If you relolutely pursue the rational model then you will constantly shift
your paradigm or portions of it (sometimes ALL of it) as you discover new
truths. This requires two disciplines:
One is Logical Introspection: The constant question "Why do I believe
that?" "Ok, why do I believe THAT? And onward to a proof or disproof that
is existence based. The quest always is to distinguish Fact, Judgement,
and Opinion. The quest is arduous because, as you point out, you see
Judgements as Facts because of the lense of your paradigm. But facts have
their root in an existence proof and a set of cold, Boolean inferences or
deductions. Else they are, by definition, NOT Facts.
The other is Communication: This shortens the introspection process which
might be impossibly long without the challenges of others, the fresh ideas
pouring in from everywhere. A REAL attraction of the net (and keeping the
net the open medium it is - end of political message).
In this manner you *always* choose what you believe based on logic.
Logic, itself (A is A to coin a phrase) is paradigm free.
-- Hal Popplewell GaltJohn22@aol.com