The Basis For Understanding
I am convinced that in one's terminational years contentment is a product of a contemplative mode of life. The following represent some of the most basic underpinnings for intelligent contemplation.
1. There is more to reality than what we receive from our senses. Yet everything begins in our senses. In takes years of wisdom and experiences to properly interpret this sensory input. Developed knowledge goes beyond observation.
2. Understanding is limited when religious authority is regarded as all powerful. Where religion dominates progress is difficult.
3. Passion clouds reality
4. Character is destiny.
5. Understanding involves knowing what something is for.
6. Precision of understanding is limited by our power of reasoning.
7. The tastes of the mob are generally grounded in considerations of pleasure and utility.
8. When desire overcomes reasoning this leads to suffering and unhappiness.
9. For God to hold anyone accountable He cannot know everything that is going to happen.
10. If our natures are different than so must be our duties.
11. Human inherent morality is grounded on the reasoned dictum called the Golden Rule.
12. Every age has it's witches---those whose conduct or perspective is so unorthodox as to be a threat to the wisdom of current culture.
13. Nature bats last
14. The engine of evolution is change.
15. Ultimately everything is reduced to molecular activity
16. Understanding the science of light does not give us beauty. Therein lies the disconnect between science and human perceptions.
17. Regarding intelligence, per se, there is little about human intelligence which differs significantly from sufficiently powerful computational devices.
18. Resignation, when properly assigned to inevitability and reason, is an essential component of contentment.
19. To achieve contentment, the seeking of pleasure should never reach the degree where it's deprivation produces pain, and the avoidance of potential pain should never reach the degree where the potential for pleasure is thwarted.
20. Contentment, in the absence of enlarging the possibilities in the lives of those living lives of quiet desperation, cannot be achieved. If all that matters is yourself and immediate family, friends---then contentment will be elusive.
21. Reality is not stationary as change is the operative mode of evolution.
22. Moral precepts can be shown to be valid and binding through a process of rational analysis.
23. Social and economic inequalities should be addressed in such a manner as to benefit
the least advantaged before they improve the conditions of the more advantaged.
24. Nature is a gift from God to all living forms on our earth. While we may not know the Gift Giver personally, the existence of a gift proves the existence of the Gift Giver.
25. "You can't go back home to your family---
to a young man's dream of fame and glory
to the country cottage away from strife and conflict
to the Father you have lost
to the old forms and systems of things which seemed
everlasting but are changing all the time." Thomas Wolfe
26. "I have learned to look at Nature, not as in the hour of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes the still, sad music of humanity" William Wordsworth
27. To want no more than we need is to be moral in the purest sense; for it leaves something for others. The less we want more than we need the more contented we become, like a heaven on earth.
28. If we learn not to fear death, then we have no reason to fear enemies; the worst they can do is kill you. No need to fear friends, the worst they can do is betray you; beware the indifferent, those whose indifference allows wars, injustice, poverty, etc. to exist on a wide scale level. They really don't care, creating a culture of permissiveness for massive human misery.
