Comments on: Denial Isn’t a River In Egypt http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/ Wise Choices. Improved Finances. A Better Life. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:40:08 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: * Turn On Your Financial RADAR http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9765 * Turn On Your Financial RADAR Tue, 05 May 2009 02:50:04 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9765 [...] Some people recognize exactly what’s going on with their finances, but choose to respond with denial. Unfortunately, denial is not going make the problem go away or help you archive financial [...] [...] Some people recognize exactly what’s going on with their finances, but choose to respond with denial. Unfortunately, denial is not going make the problem go away or help you archive financial [...]

]]> By: * Weekly Highlights: April 19, 2009 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9612 * Weekly Highlights: April 19, 2009 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:14:23 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9612 [...] You got some money from the IRS? Congratulation. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of it.Denial Isn’t a River In Egypt at The Wisdom Journal — How do you deal with problems? Face them front and center, or turn [...] [...] You got some money from the IRS? Congratulation. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of it.Denial Isn’t a River In Egypt at The Wisdom Journal — How do you deal with problems? Face them front and center, or turn [...]

]]> By: Do You Dave Ramsey? http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9591 Do You Dave Ramsey? Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:22:14 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9591 How true.... sometimes it's so easy to operate in a state of denial. However, by seeking and acting upon the truth we'll begin to carve the best path and outcomes for ourselves. Good stuff, thanks for sharing. Dave How true…. sometimes it’s so easy to operate in a state of denial. However, by seeking and acting upon the truth we’ll begin to carve the best path and outcomes for ourselves.

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.
Dave

]]> By: Melissa@frugalandthriving http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9588 Melissa@frugalandthriving Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:22:52 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9588 Thanks for the great response - gives me something to think about. I see what you're saying, but call it "my generation" I'm still a little suspicious of what people call truth. I was in a funny mood yesterday, so it seems that I was talking semantics, but it was the practicallities of what you said about being in denial of truth that got me interested. People historically believed, for example, that it was a truth that certain people were intellectually inferior, for example, and any one who thought otherwise would have been in denial of the truth. This has since been "proven" to not be the case. New "true" truth? Maybe (semantics again) this is the difference between truth and fact. Hmm, thinking, something I haven't done in a while. Thanks for the great response – gives me something to think about. I see what you’re saying, but call it “my generation” I’m still a little suspicious of what people call truth. I was in a funny mood yesterday, so it seems that I was talking semantics, but it was the practicallities of what you said about being in denial of truth that got me interested. People historically believed, for example, that it was a truth that certain people were intellectually inferior, for example, and any one who thought otherwise would have been in denial of the truth. This has since been “proven” to not be the case. New “true” truth? Maybe (semantics again) this is the difference between truth and fact. Hmm, thinking, something I haven’t done in a while.

]]> By: Admin http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9586 Admin Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:17:32 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9586 I don't think it's a good idea to slip into relativism when it comes to truth. Certainly, there are situations where things are open to interpretation, but there ARE some universal truths. How about "No THING can bring itself into existance" for a universal truth? "What is truth?" is a very simple question. Of course, answering it isn't so simple. We can offer definitions like "Truth is that which conforms to reality, fact, or actuality," but this basic definition is not complete because its definition is open to interpretation and a wide variety of applications. What is reality? What is fact? What is actuality? How does perception effect (or even affect) truth? We could offer answers for each of these questions, but then we could again ask similar questions of those answers. It's like the paradox of throwing a ball against a wall. It must get half way there, and then half way of the remaining distance, and then half of that distance, and so on. But, an infinite number of halves in this scenario never constitutes a whole. Therefore, it would seem that the ball would never reach the wall if we applied the conceptual truths of halves. The ball-against-the-wall scenario simply illustrates that defining and redefining things as we try to approach a goal actually prevents us from getting to that goal. This is what philosophy does sometimes as it seeks to examine truth. It sometimes clouds issues so much, that nothing can be known for sure. But, even though it is true that an infinite number of halves (1/2 of "a" + 1/2 of the remainder + 1/2 of the remainder of that, etc.) does not equal a whole, we can "prove" that it does by simply throwing a ball at a wall and watching it bounce off. Actually, the "1/2" equation above does not equal a whole -- mathematically. The problem is not in the truth but in its application, as is often the case with philosophical verbal gymnastics. In relativism, all points of view are equally valid and all truth is relative to the individual. If this were true, then it would seem that this is the only truth relativism would have to offer. But, the problem is that in reality, relativism isn't true for the following basic reason: if what is true for me is that relativism is false, then is it true that relativism is false? 1. If you say no, then what is true for me is not true and relativism is false. 2. If you say yes, then relativism is false. Relativism seems to defy the very nature of truth, namely, that truth is not self-contradictory. I don’t think it’s a good idea to slip into relativism when it comes to truth. Certainly, there are situations where things are open to interpretation, but there ARE some universal truths. How about “No THING can bring itself into existance” for a universal truth?

“What is truth?” is a very simple question. Of course, answering it isn’t so simple. We can offer definitions like “Truth is that which conforms to reality, fact, or actuality,” but this basic definition is not complete because its definition is open to interpretation and a wide variety of applications. What is reality? What is fact? What is actuality? How does perception effect (or even affect) truth? We could offer answers for each of these questions, but then we could again ask similar questions of those answers. It’s like the paradox of throwing a ball against a wall. It must get half way there, and then half way of the remaining distance, and then half of that distance, and so on. But, an infinite number of halves in this scenario never constitutes a whole. Therefore, it would seem that the ball would never reach the wall if we applied the conceptual truths of halves.

The ball-against-the-wall scenario simply illustrates that defining and redefining things as we try to approach a goal actually prevents us from getting to that goal. This is what philosophy does sometimes as it seeks to examine truth. It sometimes clouds issues so much, that nothing can be known for sure.

But, even though it is true that an infinite number of halves (1/2 of “a” + 1/2 of the remainder + 1/2 of the remainder of that, etc.) does not equal a whole, we can “prove” that it does by simply throwing a ball at a wall and watching it bounce off. Actually, the “1/2″ equation above does not equal a whole — mathematically. The problem is not in the truth but in its application, as is often the case with philosophical verbal gymnastics.

In relativism, all points of view are equally valid and all truth is relative to the individual. If this were true, then it would seem that this is the only truth relativism would have to offer. But, the problem is that in reality, relativism isn’t true for the following basic reason: if what is true for me is that relativism is false, then is it true that relativism is false?
1. If you say no, then what is true for me is not true and relativism is false.
2. If you say yes, then relativism is false.

Relativism seems to defy the very nature of truth, namely, that truth is not self-contradictory.

]]> By: Luke http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9584 Luke Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:42:46 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9584 A little off topic, but #10 reminded me of a diet I read about some years ago. This guy lost a ton of weight by eating his meals in reverse. For breakfast he ate things like chicken breasts, rice, vegetables,etc. Lunch was normal, but then for dinner he ate more traditional "breakfast foods" like cereal, fruits, etc. When asked how he could eat some of those foods for breakfast he pointed out that there was nothing different about eating those foods in the morning than at night. It was simply regional/cultural bias that had us used to eating certain foods at certain times of the day. A little off topic, but #10 reminded me of a diet I read about some years ago. This guy lost a ton of weight by eating his meals in reverse. For breakfast he ate things like chicken breasts, rice, vegetables,etc. Lunch was normal, but then for dinner he ate more traditional “breakfast foods” like cereal, fruits, etc.

When asked how he could eat some of those foods for breakfast he pointed out that there was nothing different about eating those foods in the morning than at night. It was simply regional/cultural bias that had us used to eating certain foods at certain times of the day.

]]> By: Melissa@frugalandthriving http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9581 Melissa@frugalandthriving Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:22:27 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9581 Ah truth...what is truth. I think you hit the nail on the head (relavitely speaking) at item number 10, truth can be relative and it changes. The "truth" of yesterday, is today's falsehood. My breakfast is different from your breakfast. I'm sure there are some Truths out there, but they are just so darn hard to pin down. Ah truth…what is truth. I think you hit the nail on the head (relavitely speaking) at item number 10, truth can be relative and it changes. The “truth” of yesterday, is today’s falsehood. My breakfast is different from your breakfast. I’m sure there are some Truths out there, but they are just so darn hard to pin down.

]]> By: Jeff@MySuperChargedLife http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9580 Jeff@MySuperChargedLife Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:54:22 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9580 Ron - I think people deny the truth because it is convenient for them. They want to believe what isn't true because it serves their interest in some way. Of course, a life built on lies will crumble. Great article! Ron – I think people deny the truth because it is convenient for them. They want to believe what isn’t true because it serves their interest in some way. Of course, a life built on lies will crumble. Great article!

]]> By: Baker @ ManVsDebt http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9577 Baker @ ManVsDebt Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:12:13 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9577 This is a really awesome list! I'm a huge fan of personal responsibility and overcoming (or increasing awareness of) denial is a huge part of that process. I'm bookmarking this for more inspiration later! This is a really awesome list! I’m a huge fan of personal responsibility and overcoming (or increasing awareness of) denial is a huge part of that process. I’m bookmarking this for more inspiration later!

]]> By: Admin http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/denial-isn%e2%80%99t-a-river-in-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-9576 Admin Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:44:30 +0000 http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/?p=660#comment-9576 Yes, I understand and that does make sense. We all are guilty at times, but if you're willing to admit it and work on it, you're on the right track. It's tough but it's a freeing experience. Yes, I understand and that does make sense. We all are guilty at times, but if you’re willing to admit it and work on it, you’re on the right track.

It’s tough but it’s a freeing experience.

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