The environment in which thinking, processing, and beliefs are occurring.
"The desire to be right and the desire to have been right are two separate desires, and the sooner we separate them the better off we are. The desire to be right is the thirst for truth. On all counts, both practical and theoretical, there is nothing but good to be said for it. The desire to have been right, on the other hand, is the pride that goeth before a fall. It stands in the way of our seeing we were wrong, and thus blocks the progress of our knowledge.” - J.S. Ullian
Matrix: An environment within which something develops.
Critical Thinking: The type of analysis that uses reasoning and facts to reach an unbiased pure conclusion.
Bias: Unfounded, manipulated, and disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing.
Unbiased: Showing no prejudice or favor for or against something. Being impartial.
Confirmation Bias: The tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values.
Vehicles & Mechanisms
Feedback Loop vs Research & Data
Feedback Loop: Outputs routed back as inputs, part of the chain of cause-and-effect, forming a circuit or loop. Warning, this can be biased or unbiased. Use caution with this form of analysis.
Research & Data: On the other hand research and data is informed, verified, pure of intent information which is collected, stored, and processed to produce and validate original research results. Note: This reduces greatly the liability of incorrect or skewed information in the analysis process.
Pure Intuition: An ability to understand or know something without needing to think about it or use reason to discover it.
English Novelist Samuel Butler once said, “Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises." Such Conclusions are drawn as the result of Feedback Loops, Research & Data, or Pure Intuition.
Feedback Loops often confirm what one already believes, most often based on nothing more than what they think they know. Where input is contaminated so is the output. As it is well said, Garbage In, Garbage Out. The problem being that many are unaware that they are wedged into a never-ending, corrupted feedback loop.
Pure Intuition is a subconscious personal truth that is often ignored for it is believed to lack the engagement of one’s critical thinking. It is difficult to put such trust in something that cannot be reasoned with.
Research & Data is the only true path to Awareness (Truth). While this reduces the liability of incorrect information, its interpretation is ultimately left to the beholder. True data cannot be skewed, but prideful and conspiring believers can reframe it. Good Intent and Great Energy are necessary to overcome pride and ego in order to unfurl evidence which disconfirms what one already believes.
Life is the art of noticing, then exiting Feedback Loops, unbelieving that which cannot be supported with Research and Data, and believing that which is unconsciously known but consciously unknown, Pure Intuition.
You are in The Matrix
You are The Matrix
Your Beliefs are in The Matrix
Your Beliefs are the Matrix
“You Are Your Beliefs”
“Truth will always be truth, regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief or understanding.” - W. Clement Stone