Lies, Lies, Nothing but Lies
Charles Jordan
Lying – we all do it. Well, I mean we don’t say what we think is the truth. If we’re not sure, but we want to make a statement, we insinuate with leading tones what we hope is both convincing and politically correct. If not, no one will like us. Most people don’t like the truth. Is the solution just not to say anything? Can we get through life with nobody liking us? Is the idea to get to the end with everybody liking you? Or is it to get to the end having made a difference? Or to have established a memorable identity?
Is the goal for everyone to be equal, the same? How boring! And if being different is all right, what kind of differences are acceptable, the most honorable. More money? More knowledge? More baskets per game? More votes? Maybe we don’t have to commit. Stay trendy. Ongoing change solves the boredom problem.
How well off does a person have to be to enjoy life and to contribute (make a difference). An accomplishment (reaching a level) sometimes stifles change. Getting that tenured professorship sometimes stops people from thinking.
Existentialism would say the best idea is an eternal becoming. My Bohemian Club would say “It’s the process, not the product.” One of the greatest gifts in life is to have something meaningful to do. Accomplishments are generally enjoyable, but think of the basketball coach after winning the Wild Card elimination game. “Does this mean you are ready to be world champions?” he is asked. “I would like to enjoy this one first if you don’t mind,” he responds. Those players from the other leagues are really good. “But I heard those guys from Jupiter are really tall and hard to beat at the Solar System level.”
Do we finally just need to satisfy ourselves or must we contribute and make someone else better? How important are the losses in life? What about the losers in life? What have you done when you give a beggar some money? Normally you can't give him enough to solve all of his problems. How much of your assets is enough? Should you make yourself poor for someone else to become equal? Will there always be poor people? Do the best you can with what you have? Expect others to do the same? Is the Golden Rule enough?
Has your path through life had its ups and downs? What’s up to one is down to another. Does enjoying yourself involve denying others? Is denying yourself for the benefit of others the only way to help them? Is helping others the only way to enjoy yourself? Finally you live with your friends but you die by yourself.
Life is what you make it, given your abilities, the luck of the draw, and the assistance of others.
Is the only difference between a scribe in the First dynasty of Egypt and a 21st-century physicist just the result of changes in technology? Both individuals are from the species homo sapien sapiens. How common (equal) is homo sapien DNA? Is the brain the same? Is the DNA updated every generation so that the ability to succeed improves as well? Breeding brings two different DNA codes together generating a brand new DNA structure. Does interbreeding average out abilities, physical appearance, mental acuity?
Are normal variations due to DNA more important than environmental effects after the fact? Human brains have many similarities and limitations. Are those limitations visible in the history of tackling the really complicated problems of life? Why should we think that evolution is over and that a better species won’t come along?
Life is a particular path for an individual. How do we know which path is better? Is it a noteworthy, satisfying experience to just live an enjoyable life? And noteworthy or satisfying to whom? Or does one have to accomplish some thing for someone else, the Puritan ethic?
Who wants to be average? As soon as the human animal reaches average, he will set his sights on being above average, or, failing that, being eccentric or reclusive or different in someway. It's clear to an ethnologist that the human animal has an instinct for being different, will work against his own self interest to avoid being bored, and needs some security before he can contribute. Where will that lead us?
Some people think that correct answers aren’t the solution: it’s the correct questions that will guide our thinking.