The Sci-Phi Pilot's Rules of Flight: Page 2

J.D. Casnig's/ G.G. Falderal's Personal Philosophy

You are wrong, were wrong and will be wrong until your end. Your apparent goal is "truth"; your attainable goal is to become less wrong. This flux is key to healthy sci-phi humility.

When all else fails - when discipline, intellect, observation, imagination and faith have worn thin - mark your position and run amok! This is key to releasing the constrictions of  intent, and often precedes inspiration.

It is better to know all aspects of one fact than one aspect of many facts. You will know more of learning by studying yourself through these aspects - to know which of your aptitudes shine and which need development. Know which aspects cause you to doubt your learning ability, that you may recognize then replace the doubt with faith. Believe that truth governs all facts equally in order that you make it possible for one fact to reveal all truth. "Work the questions" out of each fact. The questions you ask will shape your understandings - ask every question, should you wish all understandings.

One's mind is an infinite playground. I would not favor having a playground like a steel trap.

Statisticians are the politicians of numbers; their work is fun to play with, but cannot be taken too seriously. Far too rarely are statistics gathered without motive: Where the purpose is proof, deception often thrives. When one resorts to statistics, they lack reason. Statistics lead to facts, facts lead to truth - therefore statistics are the furthest thing from the truth!

Shape and reshape your questions. Change the wording and watch the conclusions change. A clear question produces clear results; a muddled question will lead you astray; conviction will lead you nowhere.

No question is truly invalid. What errors exist within a question, once identified, will help hone both one's understanding and their questioning skills. The highest state one can achieve in the "philosophy of learning" is to question one's own questions.

A "theory" is a question stated as if fact. Though many hold theories with high esteem, most theories will fall to the floor in due time. All people have theories - no one has a corner on truth.

A law is a theory with critical acclaim. Examine a law like "Matter cannot be created nor destroyed..." (Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy) - this bold statement does not address the presence of matter and energy itself in our universe. To state that matter has always been here does not explain why it exists nor why it achieves immortality. Such laws must not only be taken with a grain of salt, but a whole salt-lick!

In a dynamic mind, all thoughts will ultimately become fruitless unto themselves, therefore avoid taking them too seriously. Give your thoughts and conclusions serious consideration without serious implication. This is a hard discipline to follow, and will appear to others as ambivalence. Take heart in the notion that "time will tell".

Confusion - almost to the point of despair - will be a natural side-effect of these rules. Become familiar with confusion - not afraid of it. The result of stirring is homogeny. Homogeny allows equality among perspectives, that one does not become of narrow view: A telescope sees little of the horizon. This, as well, is a hard discipline to follow, as it is within our human nature to wish order upon the universe, limited in scope by the biases of the human perspective. Your strongest efforts include the devaluation of human perspective and perception, including your own. Pretend that this does not create a paradox, lest you become bogged down in philosophical bureaucracy.

Avoid letting the rules interfere with your daily life. You are human, and alive; do not waste your life on philosophical piety - live, and live with a passion. The world is not a monastery.

I have seen, heard and felt this day. It is time to consider these learnings: I need not feel to think; I do not need the distractions of life. I am not tired, nor hungry, nor feeling - I am not life, and I live but not by my will. My body is not me. I am without form. I am free of all things but consciousness. I am nothing; I have no meaning - fill me with emptiness and cleanse me of the burdens of life. I do not sense - I become what I think.

Each new metaphysical perspective gained should be played against all past thoughts. It is usually adequate to do this in blocks, such as one sub-science, because of its time-consuming nature; being sure to apply its template alongside the templates of other perspectives while considering new questions.

Target-practice and play-fighting with thoughts will strengthen your powers in an informal, lighthearted setting. This includes such things as word puzzles or board games, but also more abstract games such as trying to determine the properties of a hidden object, or inventing theoretical devices to make such observations. Games can help one study their own logistical approaches and adaptative techniques. Play to learn.

Uncertainty is healthy. It produces a wider scope of questioning than the tactical nature of scrutiny. In combination they are a powerful tool of assessment. Believe in yourself, but don't believe yourself.

More rules coming soon... (Oh, joy !!)