The Bandicoot — Leaner and Nosier than the Ferret…
Although unfortunately there is no champagne on offer, today I launch this blog.
My name is John Worth. I am a writer. As a young man I roamed about the back-country of the vast emptiness of Western Australia, building bridges, farm fencing, lobster fishing. Eventually I came to realise that perhaps I needed a formal education after all. Later travelling to Europe, studied sculpture in Germany and England for some years, before returning to Australia. For the next thirty years or so, I was involved in the visual arts — primarily sculpture, working and teaching, before drifting more and more to painting. From then on exhibiting mainly painting for the next twenty years or so. Somehow, gradually I also began to write — bit by bit, it became my main preoccupation.
So today, I am a writer. As such, I am just in the long and involved process of posting up as Ebooks some seven or eight of my manuscripts — some fiction, some non-fiction. (any bright ideas regarding Ebook posting welcome)
Naturally, I want to attract the attention of potential readers. I realise that although I am an enthusiastic convert to Ebooks — hey it’s the future isn’t it? — the Ebook scene is very crowded, and I have but a tiny wee voice — metaphorically speaking.
Actually, although a man of some considerable years, I believe I that I have a pleasing baritone voice — of course this is a diversion, just sayin’.
With this blog, my aim is to introduce some of my own preoccupations, interests, which find their way into both streams of my writing. I’ll be seeking feedback, ideas from similar minded people.
With all the multifarious data on every subject flooding over us, with the Information Highway getting faster and broader, we all desperately need ways to decide what of all this stuff to actually believe. More than ever, it is essential to somehow protect ourselves with plain old-fashioned bullshit filters -now codified as Critical Thinking.
I know I know, Critical Thinking is very much talked about, but to keep the basic cautionary precepts actually in the forefront of the mind…
Most readers are aware of these basic tools, but allow me to refresh them. These include the #rational, #skeptical, #unbiased analysis, or #evaluation of (purported) factual evidence. So critical thinking is the analysis of facts to form a judgment. Particularly necessary when the subject is complex, and several different definitions exist.
The key critical thinking skills are said to be: analysis, interpretation, inference, explanation, self-regulation and problem-solving. I would add perhaps that keeping an open mind is the most important factor. Its just too tempting to believe — what we want to believe.
I have actually completed a MS dealing with this problem — at least in part, I modestly lay claim. Readers will be my judge.
My proposed Ebook deals with many examples of a-causal anomaly. By that is meant any phenomena which cannot be explained by logical /positive cause and effect. All marvellous areas to delve into; UFO and the ‘little visitors’, ghosts, telepathy, time travel etc. etc. such subjects can be so fascinating, so enticing, that there is a tendency to ‘swallow it whole’, isn’t there? My book is an attempt to navigate these treacherous waters, so to speak, armed with Critical Thinking. Though not yet available as Ebook, the proposed title of the book is ‘Believing the Unbelievable.’ I will be sure to notify when it is up and away.
It is a fascinating area, and I’m hoping to get interest in my work on the subject. Much of what is reported as happening in the Universe at large, is outside of what most of us would regard as believable. I like this quote from J.B.S. Haldane:
‘…my own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.’
The other — allied — subject I would like to introduce for general discussion is growing world-wide spread of Humanism. Recently I was involved in writing a manuscript on euthanasia, the rising problem of people living longer, but not better lives. my attention was drawn to the subject, so I began to investigate the Humanist movement.
In 2002, The World Humanist Congress met for the first time in Amsterdam, to gather together and formalize (and propagate) the basic beliefs of the various Humanist bodies world-wide. As an outcome of this congress a declaration was adopted stating the aims and beliefs of the Humanist movement, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU). This declaration sets out the IHEU’s conception of Humanism. ‘Humanism presents a democratic and ethical philosophy which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and therefore does not accept supernatural views of reality.’
The full Amsterdam Declaration, explicitly states that Humanism rejects dogma, and imposes no creed upon its adherents. The core beliefs of Humanism are ethical. to quote:
‘The Declaration affirms the worth, dignity and autonomy of the individual and the right of every human being to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. Humanists have a duty of care to all humanity including future generations. Humanists believe that morality is an intrinsic part of human nature based on understanding and a concern for others, and needs no external sanction, or appeals to supernatural forces.
Primarily, Humanism is rational: it aims to use science creatively, not destructively. Humanists believe that the solutions to the world’s problems lie in human thought and action rather than recourse to some divine intervention. Humanism advocates the application of the methods of science and free inquiry to the problems of human welfare. Humanism supports democracy and human rights, aiming towards the fullest possible development of every human being. It holds that democracy and human development are matters of right, and that the principles of democracy and human rights can be applied to many human relationships and are not restricted to methods of government.
Humanism insists that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility.
(‘Freedom is not licence’ — A.S. Neal)
Humanism ventures to build a world on the idea of the free person responsible to society, and recognizes our dependence and responsibility for the natural world. Humanism is undogmatic, imposing no creed upon its adherents, thus is committed to education free from indoctrination.
The Humanist movement is a response to the widespread demand for an alternative to dogmatic religious belief. The world’s major religions claim to be based on revelations fixed for all time, and many seek to impose their world-view on all of humanity. Humanism rejects this rigid world-view, recognizing instead that reliable knowledge of the world and ourselves arises through a continuing process of observation, evaluation and revision — eg, science.
Humanism also values artistic creativity and imagination, recognising the transforming power of art. Humanism also affirms the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfillment.
#humanism is a life stance, aiming at the maximum possible fulfilment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living and offers an ethical and rational means of addressing the challenges of our time.
Having looked at this Humanist Declaration, I believe that it is not merely a declaration, but actually a blue-print for a way forward for all humanity. A sound basis for all moral decisions facing humanity as a whole. Humanism is not a challenge to religions — actually it treats religious belief as irrelevant.
For the individual who although not a religious believer, doesn’t necessarily want to wave the strident banner of atheism. Here maybe is the ultimate philosophy for you — it is for me.
Thus ends my opening salvo — in my next blog I might go on just a go on a bit more about Critical Thinking. I hasten to say, this will not be forehead on knuckle stuff, but about how sharing this with readers will give a basis of common understanding. I have included below just a sample of useful books dealing with this important topic — there is in fact a considerable literature on the subject. I’m hoping to get some good feed-back from you guys out there.
Incidentally, champagne is much overrated, eh. I think I might just have a beer.
…& because my digital marketing daughter insists upon hashtags: #humanism #octogenarian #humanist #criticalthinking #ebooks #author #blog #firsttimeforeverything #IHEU #rational #skeptical #unbiasedanalysis #evaluation #analysis #interpretation #inference #explanation #selfregulation #problemsolving #openmind #acausality
John Worth recommends reading:
Think Smarter by Michael Kallet
Asking the Right Questions by M.Neil Browne & Stuart Keeley
Critical Thinking Skills by Stella Cottrell
How to Think About Weird Things by Theodore Schick, Jr. & Lewis Vaughn
