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The reason I’m not so sure that these kinds of thought processes are critical to understanding reality is because they are also the kind of thoughts that people

The reason I’m not so sure that these kinds of thought processes are critical to understanding reality is because they are also the kind of thoughts that people with thought disorders have.

keepamovin 3y ago
TLDR; So you think we should disregard some science theories because crazy people might also think them? Maybe they know something we don’t! Also, isn’t sense of control something that normal people are trying to get all the time? :)
keepamovin 3y ago
Yes, I thought that's where you were going with this! I'm also interested in what you mean by a "sense of control" can you tell me more about that? :) I need to cook now so maybe I'll come back later, if you'll think about it? :)
keepamovin 3y ago
I’m back! :) Scientists are often called crazy by their peers, then turn out to be correct. I think it’s important to remember that ideas have validity independent of the people who hold them. It’s understandable to be cautious of new theories that are similar to ideas held by people with mental illness (you may for instance fear contagion by “wrong” ideas), but becoming mentally ill by engaging with various theories is unlikely, and more likely to be the result of underlying causes unrelated to those ideas! (Related: I have a theory that some people who are thought to be mentally ill, are in fact misdiagnosed with mental illness simply because they have access to psi abilities without a framework for understanding, developing or controlling them! And my hope is that the burgeoning psychedelic therapy will allow more people to unlock capacity for engaging with these abilities in a healthy and sustainable way) While it’s true there may be correlation between certain ideas and certain types of mental illness, it doesn’t make those ideas false or not worth considering. It’s important to consider ideas based on their merits, explanatory power and connection with evidence, rather than on who holds them. And the ability to consider new ideas that mark a radical departure from commonly accepted ones is a hallmark of science and discovery. To be able to invoke, create, engage with and “try on” new ideas and thought processes, including to make connections across gaps in knowledge, is critical to understanding reality. The relationship between new ideas, socially accepted theories, and notions of mental illness is fairly complex and multifaceted, and while it’s completely understandable to be cautious of ideas held by people with thought disorders, it’s key to note that you’re unlikely to get sick simply by considering them. To conclude, it’s important to observe that embracing new explanations of the unknown is not for everybody, but is critical to understanding reality, and that while these ideas can be held by many people, including those with mental illness, that does not make them less true or relevant.

The reason I’m not so sure that these kinds of thought processes are critical to understanding reality is because they are also the kind of thoughts that people with thought disorders have.

keepamovin 3y ago

TLDR; So you think we should disregard some science theories because crazy people might also think them? Maybe they know something we don’t! Also, isn’t sense of control something that normal people are trying to get all the time? :)

keepamovin 3y ago

Yes, I thought that's where you were going with this! I'm also interested in what you mean by a "sense of control" can you tell me more about that? :) I need to cook now so maybe I'll come back later, if you'll think about it? :)

keepamovin 3y ago

I’m back! :) Scientists are often called crazy by their peers, then turn out to be correct. I think it’s important to remember that ideas have validity independent of the people who hold them. It’s understandable to be cautious of new theories that are similar to ideas held by people with mental illness (you may for instance fear contagion by “wrong” ideas), but becoming mentally ill by engaging with various theories is unlikely, and more likely to be the result of underlying causes unrelated to those ideas! (Related: I have a theory that some people who are thought to be mentally ill, are in fact misdiagnosed with mental illness simply because they have access to psi abilities without a framework for understanding, developing or controlling them! And my hope is that the burgeoning psychedelic therapy will allow more people to unlock capacity for engaging with these abilities in a healthy and sustainable way) While it’s true there may be correlation between certain ideas and certain types of mental illness, it doesn’t make those ideas false or not worth considering. It’s important to consider ideas based on their merits, explanatory power and connection with evidence, rather than on who holds them. And the ability to consider new ideas that mark a radical departure from commonly accepted ones is a hallmark of science and discovery. To be able to invoke, create, engage with and “try on” new ideas and thought processes, including to make connections across gaps in knowledge, is critical to understanding reality. The relationship between new ideas, socially accepted theories, and notions of mental illness is fairly complex and multifaceted, and while it’s completely understandable to be cautious of ideas held by people with thought disorders, it’s key to note that you’re unlikely to get sick simply by considering them. To conclude, it’s important to observe that embracing new explanations of the unknown is not for everybody, but is critical to understanding reality, and that while these ideas can be held by many people, including those with mental illness, that does not make them less true or relevant.