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To a sound judgment, the most abstract truth is...

 
 
coberst
 
Reply Thu 28 Dec, 2006 08:08 am
"To a sound judgment, the most abstract truth is the most practical."?-Emerson

A useful metaphor for comprehending the meaning of abstract truth would be?-?'Abstract Truth is Chemical Compound'.

An abstract idea is composed of both individual concepts and other abstract concepts just as a chemical compound is composed of individual atoms and molecules.

An example of a most abstract truth might be found in John Rawls book "A Theory of Justice". Rawls concludes that an apt metaphor might be ?'Justice is Fairness'.

I guess that every child develops many concepts of fairness as s/he grows up. "Mom, Chris is cheating." "Mom, Chris always takes the bigger piece of cake." "Pick on someone your own size." The abstract concept ?'fairness' would contain many other abstract concepts and individual literal concepts. There would also be additional abstract concepts making up the abstract metaphor ?'Justice is Fairness'.

Of course one must examine the meaning of "a sound judgment". I would say that Critical Thinking skills are a necessary but not sufficient component of sound judgments. Since everybody considers themselves to be a critical thinker I would have to define several different levels of critical thinking.

A level one critical thinker is a ?'trust but verify' critical thinker. A level two critical thinker is one who has taken the college course Logic 101 or has studied this subject matter on their own. The level three critical thinkers I call CT (Critical Thinker). This is a student of rational thinking who has mastered Logic 101 plus the character traits and attitude of sound critical thinking.

Can you think of an abstract idea that might be more practical than ?'justice is fairness'?
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aidan
 
  1  
Reply Thu 28 Dec, 2006 09:14 am
Quote:
Can you think of an abstract idea that might be more practical than ?'justice is fairness'?


Here's a practical way of applying or thinking about the abstract idea of happiness that someone explained to me. They were describing the life of someone who was generally happy as compared to the life of someone who was generally unhappy. And they said that people are given a set amount of time in a life and some fill that time with activities that generate happiness (for themselves and others) and others choose to fill it differently-even when given equal means and opportunity. He saw happiness, not as some elusive state of being, but as the result of choices over which we as individuals have some (if not most) of the control, often as simple as how or how not to fill our time. I found myself agreeing.

I thought that was a good practical way to look at what is quite an abstract concept. because it's one in which we (the participants) have control, whereas in terms of realizing justice or fairness - there are many other variables involved, not the least of which is the perception of what exactly justice and fairness actually is by those who may be assigned to mete it out.

I'm glad to see you back Coberst. I was wondering where you were...
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coberst
 
  1  
Reply Thu 28 Dec, 2006 11:58 am
Aidan

I traveled back to Oklahoma for a family reunion for Cristmas. All of my children and grandchildren were together for the first time in many years. It was great. When all members with associated spouses and important 'others' got together there was 17 of us.
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aidan
 
  1  
Reply Thu 28 Dec, 2006 06:35 pm
Sounds as if you generated some happiness for yourself in the form of a wonderful family. Anyway - welcome back.
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