THE ALREADY “REVISED” WORLD OF 2022
I generally avoid making predictions outside my soon to be completed work, “Prophecy,” the sequel to THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor — https://savant-bookstore-honolulu.squ... however, given it’s still early January, I do feel compelled to comment on upcoming 2022. Last year saw the resurrection and meteoric rise of an old anti-ethic, namely the “normalization” of misinformation, be it in government, business or society. Both the economic and human-control results of carefully constructed misinformation are well recognized in the world’s political, criminal, military, and advertising arenas. Money, power and control seem to be the newly resurrected “gods” of numerous new religions, promising such in an increasingly chaotic world.
One of the great challenges of an already misinformation-plagued world, is to sort out where the “baseline” of truth in any issue exists. In fact, this seemingly veiled place was long recognized by the Greeks as witnessed by their description of the “logical fallacies,” of which pathos, ethos, keiros and numos remain present. “Baseline” truth, expressed as the absence of logical fallacies, namely logos, however doesn’t guarantee absolute truth, only “the potential for truth value,” that is, a place to begin applying rational, critical thinking. Democracies, irregardless of form, depend on truthfulness in order for citizens to cast an informed “vote.” Capitalism (as distinguished from “free trade”), is often presented as an integral part of democratic systems, not uncommonly incorporating “spun” advertising or reporting to maximize success financially or with behavioral control. That it is NOT an intrinsic part of a democracy is, in my opinion, apparent in its highly successful application in non-democratic countries.
That 2022 begins its unfolding upon a highly and deliberately misinformed baseline is what prompts the “revised” world epitaph above. No matter how much effort is put into truthful informing, if it rests on a foundation of mis-information, it can not return any more than adults can fully return to a state of childhood innocence. What can be taken away from the coming year is the knowledge and wisdom that can result from being aware of this false baseline and courageous enough to challenge its assumptions and underpinnings. Can it be done? I believe so, given the judicious application of critical thinking, meaning seeking out, identifying and eliminating the “logical fallacies” from what we currently hold to be “true,” in or order to make informed democratic decisions. It’s all so easy, really, isn’t it — not?
THE EDGE OF MADNESS available in printed, digital and audiobook formats from https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
One of the great challenges of an already misinformation-plagued world, is to sort out where the “baseline” of truth in any issue exists. In fact, this seemingly veiled place was long recognized by the Greeks as witnessed by their description of the “logical fallacies,” of which pathos, ethos, keiros and numos remain present. “Baseline” truth, expressed as the absence of logical fallacies, namely logos, however doesn’t guarantee absolute truth, only “the potential for truth value,” that is, a place to begin applying rational, critical thinking. Democracies, irregardless of form, depend on truthfulness in order for citizens to cast an informed “vote.” Capitalism (as distinguished from “free trade”), is often presented as an integral part of democratic systems, not uncommonly incorporating “spun” advertising or reporting to maximize success financially or with behavioral control. That it is NOT an intrinsic part of a democracy is, in my opinion, apparent in its highly successful application in non-democratic countries.
That 2022 begins its unfolding upon a highly and deliberately misinformed baseline is what prompts the “revised” world epitaph above. No matter how much effort is put into truthful informing, if it rests on a foundation of mis-information, it can not return any more than adults can fully return to a state of childhood innocence. What can be taken away from the coming year is the knowledge and wisdom that can result from being aware of this false baseline and courageous enough to challenge its assumptions and underpinnings. Can it be done? I believe so, given the judicious application of critical thinking, meaning seeking out, identifying and eliminating the “logical fallacies” from what we currently hold to be “true,” in or order to make informed democratic decisions. It’s all so easy, really, isn’t it — not?
THE EDGE OF MADNESS available in printed, digital and audiobook formats from https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
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