Stream Theory
Published on JanĀ 31, 2016 (updated JunĀ 6, 2021), filed under philosophy (feed). (Share this on Mastodon orĀ Bluesky?)
Not just since the Law of Attraction is there this idea of ālike attracts like,ā of self-fulfilling prophecies, of better being ācarefulā what we wish for. While I do believe in (but donāt practically grasp) the Law of Attraction, I donāt like to work with it philosophically yet (perhaps because of said grasp). But thereās a similar concept that I do like to work with, and thatās focus.
Here Iāll put up one more brief thought experiment. Look at the following ideas and associations.
| Against terror | For peace |
|---|---|
| Take revenge | Recognize root causes |
| Bomb people | Take care of people |
| Mistrust | Find out motivations |
| Tighten control | Reach out to dissenters |
| Cut rights | Strengthen liberties |
| Reject | Talk |
| Resent | Forgive |
Compare (note that these arenāt and donāt have to be opposites). Then look at this one.
| Against cancer | For health |
|---|---|
| Condemn disease | Celebrate health |
| Increase research | Build up faith |
| Worry about lifeās weaknesses and insufficiencies | Trust lifeās resilience and strength |
| Complain about injustice and unfairness | Understand disease as a space to grow and learn |
| Transcend technical limitations | Transcend philosophical limitations |
Compare again. Extend if you like. Now this:
| Against gender bias | For gender equality |
|---|---|
| Emphasize injustice | Highlight desirable outcomes |
| Blend gender and oppression | Understand the importance of all beings |
| Build up rage against other gender | Develop a feeling for differences and similarities across genders |
| Propose quota to force one gender into, the other out of functions | Allow for equal educational opportunities to permit people to assume functions by qualification, not gender |
Understanding that weāre looking at these from a light philosophical point of view, what do you notice? Do you think the sides are equally valid and useful? Do you think they lead to the same results? Which course should we takeāindividually, collectively?
I will conveniently fall back to my student role and, until I can find out whether someone else has done similar with like intent, label this: stream theory. Why? Because how we think seems to impact how we further think, making for thoughtā¦ streams. Stream theory. But maybe Iāve just lacked patience to think about a better title for this post.
About Me
Iām Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and Iām a web developer, manager, and author. Iāve been working as a technical lead and engineering manager for companies youāve never heard of and companies you use every day, Iām an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for OāReilly and Frontend Dogma.
I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and views. (I value you being critical, interpreting charitably, and giving feedback.)