Tag: Truth

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Truth Seeking Is Not a Pathology

In her essay “Truth Seeking Is Not A Pathology,” Mary Harrington delves into the tension between truth-seeking individuals and modern societal norms that often prioritize social consensus over objective truth. She begins by discussing the 2017 incident involving James Damore, a former Google engineer who was dismissed after circulating a memo suggesting that not all gender disparities in employment are solely due to discrimination. Harrington notes that Damore’s analytical approach, which emphasized empirical evidence over prevailing social narratives, led some to speculate that he might be on the autism spectrum. This, she argues, reflects a broader trend where society labels intense truth-seeking behavior as a disorder, marginalizing those who prioritize facts over social harmony. 

Harrington traces this phenomenon back to philosophical shifts that began with thinkers like William of Ockham, who emphasized empirical observation over abstract universals. This mindset paved the way for remarkable scientific and technological advancements but also led to unintended consequences. The development and use of the atomic bomb during World War II exemplify how the pursuit of “technically sweet” solutions, as physicist Robert Oppenheimer described, can have catastrophic outcomes when ethical considerations are secondary. 

In response to the devastating effects of such unbridled technological advancement, Harrington suggests that society recoiled by turning its focus inward, leading to the rise of transhumanist technologies like the contraceptive pill. This inward turn aimed to re-engineer human nature itself, operating under the belief that there is no inherent human nature, only constructs to be modified. However, this approach often dismisses the importance of meaning and purpose in human life, leading to societal issues such as the erosion of family structures and a decline in religious faith. 

The essay also highlights the contemporary challenges faced by truth-seekers in a culture that often values social consensus over objective reality. Harrington points out that this dynamic has led to a decline in genuine innovation, as the suppression of truth-seeking tendencies stifles technological and societal progress. However, she observes a resurgence of appreciation for truth-seekers in fields like artificial intelligence, where the effectiveness of models depends on accurate data and objective analysis. Companies at the forefront of AI development are beginning to recognize the value of individuals who prioritize truth over social conformity, suggesting a potential shift back toward valuing objective reality in technological advancement. 

In conclusion, Harrington advocates for a societal reorientation that balances empirical truth-seeking with ethical considerations, emphasizing that acknowledging and respecting human nature is crucial for meaningful progress. By restoring truth to a central place in our cultural and technological endeavors, we can foster advancements that are both innovative and aligned with human values. 

https://www.maryharrington.co.uk/p/truth-seeking-is-not-a-disorder

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Stay Human

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A Mother Says: Maybe I’m Suffering Too

I am alone in this battle. I can’t share with friends or family out of shame and fear and, for those in my immediate circle, the immensity of this wrong is not appreciated. I am a mother, being pushed to the limits of her sanity and overwhelmed with such heavy sorrow. Every way I look is darkly clouded and the light of hope growing so dim, that I feel trapped in a parallel universe cut off from reality.

 I am made to feel like I need to be locked up in a white room, that it is me who is mad. That somehow I have just lost my senses and that the whole world is fine! That I’m just not accepting of everyone’s subjective reality, because I am hateful lunatic. Facts seem to fly in the face of everyone around me, the Truth is now nothing but an old construct fading away into distant memory, created only to oppress and destroy. And for me to hold onto this, is apparently a telling of my oppressive and unprogressive true nature. 

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. . . I have to find strength from somewhere to keep going. I have to be strong for my other two kids. I have to be there for my suffering child to help her through this, to lead her out of this, to be here when it’s all over. And so this is when I look up, to the Only One who is good. The Only Truth I have known of late that hasn’t been dispelled. And the Only One who loves more than we do and has given us a way back to peace and joy. I look to the One who was pierced and say “Your Will not mine!” and I surrender my child to Him and say “This too is YOUR child, do what You will and give me the wisdom and strength to endure this trial”. This is when I open the Psalms and see the trials David went though, during his most difficult days and yet turned to Him and was filled with Hope once more and it fills me too with hope. This is when God Himself picks me up from the floor and says “Stand Up! You are Not alone! I Am here with you!” And this is when the moments of hope begin and God, I believe You are True. I believe You hate this evil more than we do. I believe this serves a purpose to bring about Your justice! May your Will be done and may Your justice be swift. And may You protect Your children and bring them back to the Truth!

So, in one of my rare and hopeful moments, I say this…

The Truth WILL come out in the end.

From Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT)

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Love Refuses To Affirm Confusion