David Teachout's Blog, page 16

The Essential Humanity of Cognitive Dissonance

We operate with several, if not hundreds, of beliefs merely by getting up in the morning. Believing in our ability to fling off the sheets, will our bodies to move and do so in a proscribed way, the capacity of our feet and legs to carry us forward, lights will turn on when switch is flipped, […]

When Humans Study Humans

Originally posted on John Foster:
If the goal of a philosopher was not simply to ponder, but to discover concrete truths about the nature of the universe, he should have been a scientist or a mathematician. Many discoveries in the hard sciences are no less than revelations of truth regarding the nature and processes of…

A Democracy of Kingship

America is an amazing country. We as a people have managed, despite tendencies to the contrary, to maintain and expand a democratic representative government for nearly two-and-a-half centuries. We have gone from a system where the color of one’s skin determined slavery, to being seen as only 2/3 of a person and eventually having full […]

The Loss of Purpose and Human Value in Divine Causation

Mockery is easy, particularly when presented ideas are deemed so clearly farcical. Examples of religious absurdity are so abundant, from declarations of the end of the world to seeing Jesus on a piece of toast, that poking fun and snorting with laughter has become a past-time akin to baseball for some. Unfortunately for the practice […]

8 Pieces of Relationship Advice I Just Pulled Out of My Ass

Originally posted on Respect the Blankie:
by JC Schildbach, LMHC A friend of mine recently turned me onto James Sama, a guy who, under the banner of “New Chivalry,” writes relationship advice, despite apparently having zero training in any relevant field and having nothing particularly original to say. Sama trades in stereotypes, and vague generalities,…

Blaming Anger to Ignore Legitimate Criticism

Identity politics in the United States is a testament to the human ability for self-blindness. Essentially the practice of identity politics boils down to “a particular social identity is considered good in itself” and then combined with “all actions therefore by true adherents of that very social identity are inherently good and right.” There are […]

Cruz’s Dominionism Is An America No Longer About We the People

In 2014 Ted Cruz won the straw poll for the second year in a row at the Values Voter Summit. The Summit was started back in 2006 based on upholding the social conservative holy trinity of “traditional marriage, religious liberty, sanctity of life and limited government.” For a conference that draws all of 3000 people, […]

To Fail Well Means Being Wrong Is Ok Too

While the following is focused on mental health professionals, the commentary can most assuredly be applied to any walk in life. Our shared humanity means we experience a great many things similarly, despite our avowed dedication to the belief in our uniqueness. The joys of success only shift based on what one determines is indeed […]

Expanding Personal Potential Through Friendship

The need to belong is as indelible a part of being human as it is for our hearts to continue beating and our lungs to continue circulating oxygen. I use biological analogies here precisely due to how belonging makes physiological changes in our lives. That ache associated with missing a loved one is not simply […]

Mutual Manifestation: What We Don’t See Still Happens

Like most of us I’m not a fan of events happening that seem to come out of nowhere, particularly when they’re negative or detract from my current goals. Whether it be an event related to work as in a business idea not panning out the way it was hoped or personal as in someone having […]