Now since the required ground of our knowledge---i.e. of our conviction---of a fact is the possession of such a syllogism... beforehand, but know them better than the conclusion... Aristotle (384-322 BC)

"Now since the required ground of our knowledge---i.e. of our conviction---of a fact is the possession of such a syllogism... and the ground of the syllogism is the facts constituting its premises, we must not only know the primary premises---some if not all---beforehand, but know them better than the conclusion... So since the primary premises are the cause of our knowledge---i.e. of our conviction---it follows that we know them better---that is, are more convinced of them---than their consequences, precisely our knowledge of the latter is the effect of our knowledge of the premises."

Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Organon / Analytica Posteriora, Book I (compiled 40 BC by Andronicus of Rhodes)

And so it is, or actually, it is not. Far more preferrable among political, journalistic, academic debates the hurling of opinions, preferences, sentiments, even whims as though foregone conclusions without preceding nor succeeding arguments, facts, evidences, logicalities, consistencies, sustainabilities, ethicalities, as well longstanding moralities and pieties. Instead, various emotions, slanders, defamations, tempers provide the total sum of the rhetoric, stirring and inciting the same among audiences.

"They became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools."

Paul the Apostle (5-65 AD)
Romans 1:21-22 (ESV)

And there lies the covetous, presumptuous, then arrogant rot-at-root, for 21st century society desire nothing other than such drama, regularly preferring entertainment, celebrity, titillation, excitement, incitement, wile, over education, constancy, tutelage, erudition, intelligence, wisdom, while oxymoronically appearing on paper per diploma, credential, certificate, doctorate as the most instructed generation in history.

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Is 1:18 / Mt 5:9 / 2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23

Every premise states that something either is or must be, or may be the attribute of something else... Aristotle (384-322 BC)

"Every premise states that something either is or must be, or may be the attribute of something else."

Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Organon / Analytica Priora, Book I (compiled 40 BC by Andronicus of Rhodes)

Thus the aforesaid quite obvious, self-evident (or one would think) penned by the Greek philosopher, polymath, certainly logician Aristotle, then some 2100+/- years later, the British economist, mathematician, logician William Stanley Jevons eloquently stated...

"These laws describe the very simplest truths, in which all people must agree, and which at the same time apply to all notions which we can conceive. It is impossible to think correctly and avoid evident self-contradiction unless we observe what are called the Three Primary Laws of Thought, which may be stated as follows:

1. The Law of Identity. Whatever is, is.
2. The Law of Contradiction. Nothing can both be and not be.
3. The Law of Excluded Middle. Everything must either be or not be.

Though these laws when thus stated may seem absurdly obvious...I have found that students are seldom able to see at first their full meaning and importance."

William Stanley Jevons (1835-1882)
Elementary Lessons in Logic: Deductive and Inductive (1870)

Academia therefore history, science and the oxymoronically referenced political science, other disciplines too, having long departed from Logic's obvious, self-evident consistencies, incrementally digressed since the 1880s and 1890s minimally , yet still to this day show no signs, display no evidences to admit the decades of covetously purposeful errors and excesses, then return to reality thereby first humility, inquiry, diligence, perseverance, then observation, logic, consistency, sustainability, ethic, even morality and piety.

To note, until mid 19th century, two mantras (if you will) were together revered throughout academia regardless the discipline; firstly, Logic the Science of Sciences, and secondly, Theology the Queen of Sciences. The latter became obviously absent among podiums and lecterns upon universities' transition to departmentalize thus contextualize from Theology to Religious Studies. While intentionally strategized and subsidized, yet unintentionally digressive then detrimental, for immediately proceeding the incrementally slow erosion from Logic the Science of Sciences until the complexities, contradictions, inconsistencies, corruptions, collusions, conspiracies, even absurdities, idiocies, and depravities boldfaced of the 1910s through 1990s, as well 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s particularly.

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Is 1:18 / Mt 5:9 / 2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23

"Often in the actual definitions as well ambiguity creeps in unawares, and for this reason the definitions also should be examined... Aristotle (384-322 BC)

"Often in the actual definitions as well ambiguity creeps in unawares, and for this reason the definitions also should be examined... If we are able to see in one glance what is the same in each individual case of it, we shall be at no lost into what genus we ought to put the object before us when we define it."

Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Organon / Topica, Book I (compiled 40 BC by Andronicus of Rhodes)

So to proceed logically, therefore consistently, sustainably, ethically, even morally and piously, it is paramount... FIRSTLY, to examine, determine, then commit to a name (or specie) for the thing or idea... SECONDLY, to examine, determine, then commit to a definition (or characteristics) for the name of the thing or idea... THIRDLY, to examine, determine, then commit to a category (or genus) also named and defined, in order to categorically place the aforesaid thing or idea as priorly named and defined... FOURLY and ONLY upon the prior three, to proceed towards further examination and determination, further deduction and induction (ratiocination), until furthermore the conclusion then proposition.

Hence festers and foments the rot-at-root of 21st century polities, societies, economies, universities, industries, artistries, communities, all cancerously, terminally diseased with illogicalities, inconsistencies, unsustainabilities, unethicalities, as well immoralities, even impieties, of course, rottenly rooted in covetousness, then presumption, until arrogance, therefore minimizing else dismissing while mocking the absolute necessity for the aforementioned.

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."

Galatians 6:7 (ESV)

Quite interesting to note, Apostle Paul first warns against mocking God, then proceed to exemplify with natural causes and effects. And accordingly, so not mocked God the Creator, nor mocked His Creation, as established completely and ordered comprehensively by immovable, unavoidable causalities throughout the cosmos, the universe, the galaxy, the orbit, the planet thus Earth and the specie thus Humanity.

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Is 1:18 / Mt 5:9 / 2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23

He who thus domineers over you has only two eyes, only two hands, only one body, no more than is possessed by the least man among the infinite numbers dwelling in your cities... Etienne de La Boétie (1530-1563)

 

See first the earlier post, and the one prior to it... I discovered this young 16th century French writer and his essay when reading works by American abolitionist/secessionist, essayist, political theorist, lawyer, entrepreneur Lysander Spooner (1808-1887)...

"All this havoc, this misfortune, this ruin, descends upon you not from alien foes, but from the one enemy (tyranny) whom you yourselves render as powerful as he is, for whom you go bravely to war, for whose greatness you do not refuse to offer your own bodies unto death. He who thus domineers over you has only two eyes, only two hands, only one body, no more than is possessed by the least man among the infinite numbers dwelling in your cities; he has indeed nothing more than the power that you confer upon him to destroy you. Where has he acquired enough eyes to spy upon you, if you do not provide them yourselves? How can he have so many arms to beat you with, if he does not borrow them from you? The feet that trample down your cities, where does he get them if they are not your own? How does he have any power over you except through you? How would he dare assail you if he had no cooperation from you?"

Etienne de La Boétie (1530-1563)
Discourse on Voluntary Servitude (1577)

The late 20th century Austrian-Misesean economist Rothbard wrote as a forward to the newer translation of Boétie's work, echoing the same indictment of the people that participate, in addition to the despot him/herself...

"Every tyranny must necessarily be grounded upon general popular acceptance. In short, the bulk of the people themselves, for whatever reason, acquiesce in their own subjection. If this were not the case, no tyranny, indeed no governmental rule, could long endure."

Murray Newton Rothbard (1926-1995)
Introduction for Harry Kurz's translation of Boétie's essay (1975)

And so these Towers of Babel throughout history, since antiquities even primitivities, have manifested in various forms; as literal towers or some other public project(s), as excessive governments, of course, as despotic kingdoms then tyrannic empires, as well grand economies puffed up by grander debt only to bust the bubble inevitably. Yet, as much fault oft levied upon tyrants, kings, prime ministers, presidents, parliamentarians, senators, bureaucrats, corporate cronies, and rightly so, they could not have so schemed without a far broader participation among the citizenry. Consequently, if to blame King Nimrod for the tower, therefore if to blame Big Brother for the Orwellian superstate, if to blame the King of France for 16th century state of French affairs, and if to blame King Saul for that which followed during his reign and the reigns to come, then blame too all those who participated, benefited, supported, etc.

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Is 1:18 / Mt 5:9 / 2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23

Perversionism; to consent or dissent on all matters per his/her preference, yet remain discontented, disconcerted even disturbed until others act, speak even think compatibly...

Once again :-), I am NOT Democrat, Liberal, Left, NOR Republican, Conservative, Right, certainly NOT Moderate, near-Center Left else near-center Right hence more confused than others. Furthermore, I am NOT Libertarian who's ideology and party morphed years ago to Republican-Lite therefore as erroneous as the priorly stated three.

With that said, depending on the issue I am critiquing, others will categorize then slander my posture as one of the aforementioned. And so, narrowed even hobbled thinking, per simplistically misleading linear scale(s), remains cancerously widespread.

A moment ago, I posted the quote attached and below in regards to yet another issue and trend where many if not most whether Liberal or Conservative, Left or Right, Democrat or Republican, though free to think, speak, behave as they prefer, are oddly even maniacally therefore covetously still discontented because others are not thinking, speaking, behaving similarly. Truly astonishing!!! I have long proposed these two isms, as well documented the same in my last three books...

Perversionism; to consent or dissent on all matters per his/her preference, yet remain discontented, disconcerted even disturbed until others act, speak even think compatibly, similarly by force legal or illegal thus force governmental, social or personal. It is critical to include in consideration and understanding the word and sentiment covetousness as the indisputable perquisite to such perversion.

In start contrast to...

Individualism; the constant respect hence consistent regard for each and every person's Peculiar Human Ability to Reason as manifested per the Singular Human Right to Consent or Dissent on all matters. Without exemption or exception, all considerations must rest upon the aforesaid, else the unethical dilemma remaining unjustifiable ergo unresolvable till resumed and revered the one ethos and creed as determined then established since humanity first reasoned.

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Is 1:18 / Mt 5:9 / 2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23

This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen... Samuel the Seer/Prophet (1070-1012 BC)

See first the prior post, for the verses are referenced... Now, the entire context, the historical as well modernly applicable warning by the Old Testament prophet Samuel...

"And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us."

Samuel the Seer/Prophet (1070-1012 BC)
1 Samuel 8:10-19, King James Version (1611)

Isn't interesting, when the Hebrews covetously, presumptuously, arrogantly disrespected then disregarded the prophet Samuel's divinely inspired warning against monarchic thus unaccountable monocratic, despotic, tyrannic rule over pluralistic thus accountable logical, ethical, moral, even pious self rule, as during era of the Judges, it was a point of no return as well documented for centuries thereafter until the Roman occupation then destruction and scattering in 70 AD.

Oh, would have the American colonials listened to such warnings and ancient lessons during the summer of 1787 and the years that followed? Wait, the American colonials were warned numerously, and in great detail, per the newspaper articles now compiled and entitled Anti-Federalist Papers. Yet like the Hebrews, they covetously, presumptuously, arrogantly disrespected then disregarded those warnings and still do today.

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Is 1:18 / Mt 5:9 / 2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever... George Orwell (1903-1950)

 

Many will quote solely the last line by Orwell, thus; "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever." And rightly so, for immediately the imagination reels by the resulting contemplation then disturbance.

Yet the entire paragraph chills further the bones upon reading each sentence, every subject and predicate, any term even word. It is astonishing the seemingly prophetic or predictive nature of it. More accurately, the mere observation of current events then study of recent history, combined with understanding the covetous character and inevitable digression when expansive, excessive, extravagant the power thus governance; all naturally, logically facilitates the mind to innately  deduce then induce (ratiocinate) to similar propositions. Same is quite true if to read Etienne de La Boétie's 1577 essay Discourse on Voluntary Servitude, and more so the Old Testament passage 1st Samuel, chapter 8, verses 10 through 19.

Enough of my rambling, now the lengthy however noteworthy excerpt by Orwell....

"The old civilizations claimed that they were founded on love or justice. Ours is founded upon hatred. In our world there will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph, and self-abasement. Everything else we shall destroy—everything. Already we are breaking down the habits of thought which have survived from before the Revolution. We have cut the links between child and parent, and between man and man, and between man and woman. No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend any longer. But in the future there will be no wives and no friends. Children will be taken from their mothers at birth, as one takes eggs from a hen. The sex instinct will be eradicated. Procreation will be an annual formality like the renewal of a ration card. We shall abolish the orgasm. Our neurologists are at work upon it now. There will be no loyalty, except loyalty towards the Party. There will be no love, except the love of Big Brother. There will be no laughter, except the laugh of triumph over a defeated enemy. There will be no art, no literature, no science. When we are omnipotent we shall have no more need of science. There will be no distinction between beauty and ugliness. There will be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life. All competing pleasures will be destroyed. But always—do not forget this, Winston—always there will be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and constantly growing subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever."

George Orwell (1903-1950)
1984: Big Brother Is Watching You (1949)

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.

Is 1:18 / Mt 5:9 / 2 Tm 2:15 / Cl 3:23