Binary

[Gary Childress]

If there is no good option left, then would it be necessary to go right?

[commonsense]

If there is no good option left, then would it be necessary to go right?

Not necessarily. Things are not always as two-sided as they may seem. Under thorough examination it may turn out that there are more options than initially surmised.

However, if it is found that only the two options exist, and if standing in place and/or retreating are therefore not permitted, and all other things being equal, one must go right, even though there may be no good choices on the right as well.

IOW, if left is not viable and right is not known, right is the better choice.

[Lacewing]

If there is no good option left, then would it be necessary to go right?

From the article linked below...

"A two-dimensional thinker sees the world as a polarized place. Who you are and what you believe becomes categorical. It is either one way or the other. These individuals can see facts, but truth eludes them because the facts are generally considered without context."

Here's an interesting short article about two-dimensional vs. three-dimensional thinking:

https://thesecularjurist.wordpress.com/ ... cognition/

[Gary Childress]

If there is no good option left, then would it be necessary to go right?

From the article linked below...

"A two-dimensional thinker sees the world as a polarized place. Who you are and what you believe becomes categorical. It is either one way or the other. These individuals can see facts, but truth eludes them because the facts are generally considered without context."

Here's an interesting short article about two-dimensional vs. three-dimensional thinking:

https://thesecularjurist.wordpress.com/ ... cognition/

So there is "two-dimensional" thinking vs "three-dimensional thinking?" And once all the two-dimensional thinkers are cured of their fault or else go away through some other means, will there be four-dimensional thinking that will be better than two-dimensional thinking? Is there an upper limit to these "dimensions" or are "dimensions" infinite?

[Lacewing]

So there is "two-dimensional" thinking vs "three-dimensional thinking?" And once all the two-dimensional thinkers are cured of their fault or else go away through some other means, will there be four-dimensional thinking that will be better than two-dimensional thinking? Is there an upper limit to these "dimensions" or are "dimensions" infinite?

So if you're getting ready to eat a hot dog, and you're deciding whether to go in the direction of ketchup or mustard, but then you realize there's also relish... oh, and onions... and chili... and maybe you should LOOK AROUND for what else might be worth considering... would that be better than staring at the hot dog in confusion and being frustrated because that's all you see?

Are you seriously so resistant to the obvious logic of moving beyond two-dimensional thinking that you can't even appreciate considering it on a philosophy forum? This binary stuff is what so many of your questions seem to be mired in. If you want to know more, research it for yourself and stop complaining that no one is giving you definitive binary answers.

[Gary Childress]

So there is "two-dimensional" thinking vs "three-dimensional thinking?" And once all the two-dimensional thinkers are cured of their fault or else go away through some other means, will there be four-dimensional thinking that will be better than two-dimensional thinking? Is there an upper limit to these "dimensions" or are "dimensions" infinite?

So if you're getting ready to eat a hot dog, and you're deciding whether to go in the direction of ketchup or mustard, but then you realize there's also relish... oh, and onions... and chili... and maybe you should LOOK AROUND for what else might be worth considering... would that be better than staring at the hot dog in confusion and being frustrated because that's all you see?

Are you seriously so resistant to the obvious logic of moving beyond two-dimensional thinking that you can't even appreciate considering it on a philosophy forum? This binary stuff is what so many of your questions seem to be mired in. If you want to know more, research it for yourself and stop complaining that no one is giving you definitive binary answers.

Is there God or is there not God? Is binary thinking good or bad? Is Trump guilty or not guilty of the crimes he is said to have committed? Should abortion be legal or should it not?

[LuckyR]

I know folks (probably everyone does) who are what I like to call: "black or white" thinkers. They lack the ability to appreciate that most of social interaction exists in a gray zone. Advising them (since they are continuously running into interpersonal "quandaries", when neither this nor that are a good option) can be exhausting.

[Gary Childress]

I know folks (probably everyone does) who are what I like to call: "black or white" thinkers. They lack the ability to appreciate that most of social interaction exists in a gray zone. Advising them (since they are continuously running into interpersonal "quandaries", when neither this nor that are a good option) can be exhausting.

OK. But that doesn't solve what happens if a woman gets pregnant against her choice. That doesn't tell us if Trump is guilty or innocent. That doesn't tell us if there is a perfect judge (God) who sees all or not. That doesn't even tell us if someone claiming to have seen a unicorn is telling the truth or not.

[LuckyR]

I know folks (probably everyone does) who are what I like to call: "black or white" thinkers. They lack the ability to appreciate that most of social interaction exists in a gray zone. Advising them (since they are continuously running into interpersonal "quandaries", when neither this nor that are a good option) can be exhausting.

OK. But that doesn't solve what happens if a woman gets pregnant against her choice. That doesn't tell us if Trump is guilty or innocent. That doesn't tell us if there is a perfect judge (God) who sees all or not. That doesn't even tell us if someone claiming to have seen a unicorn is telling the truth or not.

Well in order to shoehorn human situations into only two options requires putting numerous "artificial" limits on the discussion. For example if a woman becomes pregnant against her preference she can either keep it or have a termination (is I think what you're alluding to as options). Not so much, she could have a miscarriage, she could keep the baby, she could put it up for adoption and of course she could have a termination.

Basically folks can be divided into "lumpers" (who value commonality and thus put individual events into groups) and "splitters" (who value differences and thus divide individual events according to them).

It's a perception issue.

[Gary Childress]

I know folks (probably everyone does) who are what I like to call: "black or white" thinkers. They lack the ability to appreciate that most of social interaction exists in a gray zone. Advising them (since they are continuously running into interpersonal "quandaries", when neither this nor that are a good option) can be exhausting.

OK. But that doesn't solve what happens if a woman gets pregnant against her choice. That doesn't tell us if Trump is guilty or innocent. That doesn't tell us if there is a perfect judge (God) who sees all or not. That doesn't even tell us if someone claiming to have seen a unicorn is telling the truth or not.

Well in order to shoehorn human situations into only two options requires putting numerous "artificial" limits on the discussion. For example if a woman becomes pregnant against her preference she can either keep it or have a termination (is I think what you're alluding to as options). Not so much, she could have a miscarriage, she could keep the baby, she could put it up for adoption and of course she could have a termination.

Basically folks can be divided into "lumpers" (who value commonality and thus put individual events into groups) and "splitters" (who value differences and thus divide individual events according to them).

It's a perception issue.

OK. So she can put the baby up for adoption, keep the baby, or hope (really hard) that she has a miscarriage (perhaps even engage in behavior that is more likely to cause miscarriage). If abortion is illegal.

[Lacewing]

Is there God or is there not God?

Depends on what you're specifically referring to and how you imagine it applies to you.

Is binary thinking good or bad?

Depends on how you're using it or being limited by it, and what you imagine as 'good' and 'bad'.

Is Trump guilty or not guilty of the crimes he is said to have committed?

Is there proof? Are there witnesses? Will there ever be one answer/'truth' that everyone will agree on?

Should abortion be legal or should it not?

Depends on how it considers varying circumstances and perspectives.

If you can consider beyond 'this' or 'that', or 'yes' or 'no', you'd see a larger scope for reality -- maybe that is what scares you.

[Gary Childress]

Is there God or is there not God?

Depends on what you're specifically referring to and how you imagine it applies to you.

Is binary thinking good or bad?

Depends on how you're using it or being limited by it, and what you imagine as 'good' and 'bad'.

Is Trump guilty or not guilty of the crimes he is said to have committed?

Is there proof? Are there witnesses? Will there ever be one answer/'truth' that everyone will agree on?

Should abortion be legal or should it not?

Depends on how it considers varying circumstances and perspectives.

If you can consider beyond 'this' or 'that', or 'yes' or 'no', you'd see a larger scope for reality -- maybe that is what scares you.

OK. But it is the case that Trump is either guilty or not of the charges brought against him. It is the case that there either is a God or there isn't. It is the case that abortion is murder or it isn't. It is either the case that binary thinking is good or else bad. Are all those statements true? Are some of those statements true? Are none of those statements true?

[Lacewing]

OK. But it is the case that Trump is either guilty or not of the charges brought against him. It is the case that there either is a God or there isn't. It is the case that abortion is murder or it isn't. It is either the case that binary thinking is good or else bad. Are all those statements true? Are some of those statements true? Are none of those statements true?

I already answered. You are limited to 'yes' or 'no', and even when you get it, you won't be sure and you won't be any more empowered in living your life. So maybe you're focusing on the wrong thing.

For example... 'There either is a God or there isn't.' Okay, which god? For who? For what?

Are you tormented by your quest for single, absolute answers in a vastly diverse world of endless possibilities and unknown potential?

[Gary Childress]

Are you tormented by your quest for single, absolute answers in a vastly diverse world of endless possibilities and unknown potential?

Not so much as tormented by people who avoid answers to questions that are either true, false, or unknown or unknowable. If someone asks me a question and I don't know the answer, I have to say, I don't know. If it seems like an important question then I feel like finding the answer is also important.

[Lacewing]

Are you tormented by your quest for single, absolute answers in a vastly diverse world of endless possibilities and unknown potential?

Not so much as tormented by people who avoid answers to questions that are either true, false, or unknown or unknowable.

Oh, you mean like the answers you don't know but that you insist must be answered in a certain way?