Ignorant Knowledge

Ignorance is bliss/Knowledge is power

"Ignorance is bliss" is credited to the English poet Thomas Gray (1716-1771) and everyone can relate to the simplicity of ignorance and innocence. The more we learn, the more realize we do not know. The philosopher, Francis Bacon, Sr. said "knowledge is power" and we all know that G.I Joe believes "knowing is half the battle." Are both ignorance and knowledge equal and valid in their impact on our lives? How big is the space between the two?

Passive Activism

Let it all go...just relax. There is nothing to worry about. /
Stand up and fight...Practice what you preach...Be passionate about living.

There is more to this idea than balance. The idea is to give 100 percent to a cause and let it go completely at the same time. The "theory of opposites" is not as simple as balancing or using moderation, it is understanding that both sides of the coin are true. The coin is spinning in a spiral. (Oh, I must investigate spirals and the mathematical concept of the golden ratio as I know it is relevant to my theory.)

The Existence of Nothing

The number zero has not always been used in counting. When counting objects, one generally begins with "one." Most of us rarely contemplate the meaning of zero or the idea of nothing. After sharing my interest in opposites, a professor recently suggested I read some of Alan Watt's work and I stumbled upon this video of Alan Watt's describing nothingness which does fit with my theory that we live in a world of opposites. I really like the short portion of a Radiohead song at the end.

Perfect Flaw

Everything is exactly as it is supposed to be / Nothing is as it should be

The Abstract Concrete Paradox

What is reality? The scientist may argue that reality is based upon concrete facts. We can prove they are true and account for them. The philospher may argue that concrete objects are temporary and that reality is what they represent- thought. Are thoughts and ideas more real than tangible objects?
Lev Vygostky (Russian Cognitive Development Psychologist) said that, "A word devoid of thought is a dead thing." Until a book is opened and read, it is meaningless. Once a book is taken into a human mind, it becomes a living thing.
Is reality, then, abstract or concrete? Ah! --the perfect example of my theory of opposites. They are both 100% true. Words, thoughts, and ideas live longer than individuals. Vygotsky was influenced by Russian poet Osip Mandelstam. The idea that we are more than physical beings (concrete reality) is expressed through his poetry. Finding the right containers (words) for our thoughts is our abstract struggle, while finding food and shelter is our concrete one. Mandelstam beautifully illustrates this here:

The word I forgot
Which once I wished to say
And voiceless thought
Returns to the shadow's chamber.

Triumphant Defeat

We are born into a particular family, with a gifts of natural intellect and ability, without any choice whatsoever. Yet, we feel as though we can control our lives through choices and actions.
We control nothing / We have free choice
Which? Both
There is power in surrender.

Serious Relaxation

As I whirl through my day, juggling responsibilities and prioritizing my attention to a variety of tasks, I must remind myself of another oxymoron. If I believe in what I hope to accomplish, I give 100 percent to the task. At the same time, I am aware that I am not indispensable. It is possible to focus intently to a purpose and yet let it go, understanding that it is both critically important yet (in the big picture) not important at all. This would not be true if I were to give up and say, "Nothing matters. All is futile." To be alive is to breathe such paradoxes again and again.

Constant Change

Nothing new under the sun / Change is constant
There's an old proverb that states, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." I like to view that statement in the form of a spiral. Each year we witness the same seasons- winter, spring, summer, and fall-- yet we see them in new time. Older people ask "what is this next generation coming to?" In fact, it seems that question has been asked throughout the ages. Rebellion against the status quo, revolt against authority...it is as old as mankind. Yet, we have never lived in an age as we do today with instant communication and technological advancement. Are things the same or are they different? I say...both. That is an example of the theory of oppositional truth.

Now and Then

Plan for the future / Live for the moment
(Be responsible / All we have is now)
Oxymoron: planned spontaneity

Subatomic-Astronomic

In what direction do we look for what is important-- to the tiniest detail or the big picture?
The tiniest detail is important / the big picture is important
(a microscopic particle = the magnitude of the universe)
Oxymorons: gigantic minutia, minuscule magnitude

Theory of Oppositional Truth

For years now, I have been contemplating this world of opposites in which we live. I like to call it my "theory of oppositional truth" which is an idea that includes more than just temporal life but also the eternal life. Thinking about both concrete reality and abstract reality requires both scientific fact and imaginative faith. In that context, truth is the simultaneous balance of all sides: possible, impossible, probable and improbable. Yet, it is more than balance because all sides are true at the same time. Two things (which seem opposed) can both be valid.