This is going to be one of those philosophical types of posts. Mainly, it is about a branch of philosophy known as epistemology, which is the study of knowledge.
Is it possible to really know a thing? You might get deep into this subject and have that kind of question pop up. Therefore, a bit of opinion will color what you believe to be true. How could it not be the case, if the whole idea of truth itself can be disputed?
For the purposes of this post, I'm going to posit that we have pretty reliable indications of what is true and what isn't. Esoteric discussions about what is really true or not true are out there in the weeds.
Consequently, there cannot be a situation in which "my truth" , "your truth", and "the truth" can be true all at the same time and also different from each other. But you hear the terms sometimes thrown about out there as if it were a valid thing. One example I can think of is in the movie Passion of the Christ, where Pilate tells his wife what "his truth" is. In that case, the truth and "his truth" would both be true if what he said was true. It is a movie though, and so it isn't necessarily "the truth", since Pilate may not have ever said any such thing. The point? I don't know. Only this: that words can be malleable, but the truth is not.
The use of words may get you closer to truth or further from it. Largely, it would be a matter of the intent of the one who communicates the words and what the intent of those words are. The intent could be to inform or deceive. In other words, if a person knows what the truth is, and says something that contradicts this, then clearly the intent is to deceive. Why else use words that way?
I like to say that truth is a slippery thing. If you think you've got it, maybe you don't. In other words, you can believe a thing quite strongly, but find out that what you believed was wrong.
So how do you know? You have to have a way of knowing that gives reliable answers. Such a way can be derived from a study of knowledge, and how we know what we know.
Science can do this. Science gives a procedure for determining truth. But is science always reliable? Not always, as great scientists have had their work superseded during the course of time. It reminds me of what I heard about Einstein when his theories superseded Newton's. Basically, Einstein was contradicting Newton ( why this is true is beyond the scope of this little essay ). Does that make somebody a liar then? No. It just means that knowledge advances with more knowledge.
Let's say that Newton and Einstein were contemporaries. Who do you believe? How do you determine who's right and who's wrong? If you depended upon the reputations of each, you'd have a big problem, now wouldn't you? In other words, there has to be more than one way to skin that cat.
If Newton and Einstein were also politicians, then it would be a matter of who is more powerful.
But what if the wrong guy prevailed? The truth wouldn't be served, but the winner would be.
Could science give more reliable answers? Yes, provided that the rules of science were followed. But politics and rules don't necessarily mix. Nor do politics and truth mix.
Politics may be able to force a situation to be accepted as "right" even if it is wrong. But science is not that way. When it is, it ceases to be science.
Al Fin: "Cowboy Commentary", aka "Eat your veggies" The Flag banner is posted in order to defy those who would make patriotic symbols illegal or disreputable.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
A "permanent" coup?
Comment:
This link was from a Free Republic post. The comment section there acknowledges two things:
1) Taibbi is anti-Trump, and 2) Taibbi is against the soft-coup.
He is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone, so that gives a pretty good indication of who he is. He also contributed to Keith Olbermann's show. Olbermann strikes me as a nutcase. Taibbi seems to have a way of pissing off just about everybody.
So, what's my opinion of his piece? He doesn't like Trump nor does he like the plotters of this coup.
As for what I think of his calling it a permanent coup, I would disagree. It won't last. One or the other must win this confrontation. Trump is the only one in politics that I've seen who is willing to take it on. Just my own opinion here, but we've had this ongoing sedition in our country for a long time now. If Trump fails in putting it down, the results are going to be painful for almost everyone on this planet. If he succeeds, it will be painful for the few malcontents and a small minority of their followers.
Personally, I find it hard to believe that the vast majority of Americans support what the Dems are doing. It is only possible for them to succeed because the vast majority of Americans aren't fully aware of how rotten this attempted coup is. On that score, if Trump can win those who normally side with the Dems over to his side, he will prevail. If not, they plotters will win, and the Republic will cease to be.
This link was from a Free Republic post. The comment section there acknowledges two things:
1) Taibbi is anti-Trump, and 2) Taibbi is against the soft-coup.
He is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone, so that gives a pretty good indication of who he is. He also contributed to Keith Olbermann's show. Olbermann strikes me as a nutcase. Taibbi seems to have a way of pissing off just about everybody.
So, what's my opinion of his piece? He doesn't like Trump nor does he like the plotters of this coup.
As for what I think of his calling it a permanent coup, I would disagree. It won't last. One or the other must win this confrontation. Trump is the only one in politics that I've seen who is willing to take it on. Just my own opinion here, but we've had this ongoing sedition in our country for a long time now. If Trump fails in putting it down, the results are going to be painful for almost everyone on this planet. If he succeeds, it will be painful for the few malcontents and a small minority of their followers.
Personally, I find it hard to believe that the vast majority of Americans support what the Dems are doing. It is only possible for them to succeed because the vast majority of Americans aren't fully aware of how rotten this attempted coup is. On that score, if Trump can win those who normally side with the Dems over to his side, he will prevail. If not, they plotters will win, and the Republic will cease to be.
Matt Taibbi:"We're in a permanent coup." https://t.co/iwURkHau39— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) October 12, 2019
Friday, October 11, 2019
What's up with this ambassador?
Comment:
This former ambassador was the one who was to give testimony today ( behind closed doors, Star Chamber style ).
Perhaps I am mistaken, but doesn't the President have the power to fire people like this? It seems that the Democrats are trying to make a crime out of his execution of the office of the Presidency.
She was holding up visas of Ukrainian officials who were trying to come to the US and give testimony about what was going on there. So, why was this ambassador holding up these visas?
This former ambassador was the one who was to give testimony today ( behind closed doors, Star Chamber style ).
Perhaps I am mistaken, but doesn't the President have the power to fire people like this? It seems that the Democrats are trying to make a crime out of his execution of the office of the Presidency.
She was holding up visas of Ukrainian officials who were trying to come to the US and give testimony about what was going on there. So, why was this ambassador holding up these visas?
Dark Age
Comment:
Answer: Yes, it appears that at the very least, we are on that path.
Next question.
Answer: Yes, it appears that at the very least, we are on that path.
Next question.
— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) October 11, 2019
Some say he is no longer running for POTUS, but merely moving Overton Window
Comment:
Orwellian. If the Overton Window moves in that direction, America as we have known it, is over.
This loon advocates removing religious liberty from any group that opposes homosexuality, yet claims this isn't infringing upon First Amendment rights.
The crowd was reported to have cheered loudly. A so-called "LGBT" town hall.
Orwellian. If the Overton Window moves in that direction, America as we have known it, is over.
This loon advocates removing religious liberty from any group that opposes homosexuality, yet claims this isn't infringing upon First Amendment rights.
The crowd was reported to have cheered loudly. A so-called "LGBT" town hall.
Beto Vows to Strip Tax-Exempt Status From Churches That Oppose Gay Marriage https://t.co/JUggRVqCf7 #Faith via @pjmedia_com— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) October 11, 2019
"Your move, creep"
Comment:
Note: "Zugzwang" is a term used in chess. It means no move is possible without weakening one's own position. It is common in "end game" scenarios.
Yeah, and it reminds me of this scene. Maybe in real life we are talking about Lady Liberty being raped. Who's Robocop, then?
We haven't seen Robo yet. Bwah, hah, hah.
Note: "Zugzwang" is a term used in chess. It means no move is possible without weakening one's own position. It is common in "end game" scenarios.
Yeah, and it reminds me of this scene. Maybe in real life we are talking about Lady Liberty being raped. Who's Robocop, then?
We haven't seen Robo yet. Bwah, hah, hah.
Zugzwang: Why Nancy Pelosi Refuses to Hold an Impeachment Vote https://t.co/WVCiHll6uS— Greg Meadows (@BootsandOilBlog) October 11, 2019
Star Chamber holds another secret hearing
Comment:
The tweet is from Roll Call.
If you read beyond the headline, the article mentions that the former ambassador will testify behind closed doors.
So, how do we know what she said????
By the way, the article refers to "subpoenas", which aren't. This is Orwellian.
The tweet is from Roll Call.
If you read beyond the headline, the article mentions that the former ambassador will testify behind closed doors.
So, how do we know what she said????
By the way, the article refers to "subpoenas", which aren't. This is Orwellian.
Latest impeachment news: Recalled U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who Trump called “bad news” to testify before House committees today https://t.co/EWFn7lbUnz— Roll Call (@rollcall) October 11, 2019
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