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Simple Wisdom
Simple Wisdom

         by
Stephen B. Waters

Copyright 1994, 1998

This is a draft of a book that is the result of readings most of which were completed almost 20 years ago. Much of what is written is extracted from essays and letters written in the early 1980's. One biographer wrote that H.L. Mencken's belief system was consistent throughout his writing career. It seems also to be true of the other authors quoted herein. That supports the conclusion that PROCESS is at the core of ethical decisionmaking.

Decide for yourself. Here is a summary of what you'll find:

  • Richard Mitchell -- We are in deep trouble.
  • Julian Jaynes -- Our history has a clue to a way out: We think differently than previously we had thought. Consciousness--a sense of self and the spatialization of time--is an acquired trait.
  • Robert Heilbroner -- Processes are the masters of our thought..
  • Douglas Hofstadter -- Tools are available to refine our processes of thought.
  • Using these tools there is wisdom to be sifted from the great thinkers of the past who also addressed the simple daily problems of living.
  • We can create a stable process with built-in self-correction to understand where we are and to plan for the future.
  • That ethical systems are constructed by man for his own best interest.
  • That a useful ethical system can be constructed that applies over the entire range of society--individuals, small groups, states, and nations.
  • That if we are in deep trouble, there is reason for optimism.
  • The grace of which we are capable lies in our humanity, not in our gods; in our will to be human.
  • We shoulder the responsibility for our lives. We have now the tools to do so. We are in a race against ourselves.

You may have a special way that makes it easier for you to familiarize yourself with these ideas. They all end up at the heart of the matter. Try one. Find out the easiest way for you to find personal value from this website:

In a Nutshell.
A brief summary introducing the whole shebang.
We are in deep trouble.
Why it's important for us to approach the world this way.
M.C. Escher's graphical illustration of Hofstadter's Tangled Loops
The way we think can help us deal with daily living more easily.
Twenty-four Hours of Democracy Essay.
A single example of a Simple Wisdom.
And don't forget to have fun!

Regards/sbw

In a Nutshell In a Nutshell
Historical Thinking
What can we do?
Why write this book
 Current Circumstance
Current Circumstance
Jaynes on Consciousness
Naming and Recursion
Compelling Morality
Process
In Practice
The Best way to be.
Dealing with people: practicing judgment.
Presentation for the people
People
Collective wisdoms of living.
Helping others – How much help and of what kind
Accessibility
 Simple Wisdom
Responsibility to act
Thoughts only map reality
The way things are
Sense of what is possible
Fantasy and reality
Facades and the map of reality
Style versus substance
On the possibility you might be wrong
We color how we look at the past
We color what we see today
Constant re-evaluation is required
There can be no unthinkable thoughts
History has value
Ideas stand apart from the people who think them
The other man's wisdom
How much is too much
Consistency
A sense of perspective
A sense of otherness
Living acutely
Confucian Golden Rule
Confucian Golden Mean
Simplicity
A sense of time
A sense of death
Honor
 Educating Simple Wisdoms;48
The state of education;48
Process;49
Process rather than precepts;49
Ideas;50
Karl Marx – Why misunderstood?;50
Friendship and Trust;53
Then and Now. Enlightenment thinking. Consciousness perceived.;54
The Way;54
Ritual;55
 Implications of Simple Wisdoms;56
Philosophy – Metamorphosis at criticism;56
What subject is this?;56
Jaynes Thesis: Human origins of God;57
The hereafter: voices of the dead;58
Asking good questions;59
Free Will;59
The proof of God?;61
The dogma of church;61
Living. Why live;61
Ephemeral Verités;61
 Applying Simple Wisdoms;63
Moral Principles. Freedom;63
Capitalism. Distinction between market economy.;63
Dealing with a totalitarian state;64
Foreign Aid;65
Governments;65
Money. Value.;66
Paraphernalia Laws;66
The Draft;67
Jobs;68
People's Bureaus;68
Reality vs. the Myth. Olympics;69
Unnecessary government;69
Rights;70
Racism;70
 Epilogue;71
Energy Crisis;71
Stifling Productivity;72
People should do their own thinking;72
Significance of Jaynes and Hofstadter;73
What is the value of this study?;73
Value of simple wisdoms;73
Stilted conversation;74
Time;74
Conversation;74
Music and Ritual;74
Death of Religion;75
No more expansion markets;75
Business;75
Schools and goodness;75
Duplicity;75
 Appendix of Quotations;76
Knowledge;76
Time;77
Wisdoms;78
Otherness;79
Death;80
History;81
Balance;81
The way things are;83
Purpose of life;83
Forthrightness;84
Thinking & talking vs. doing;84
Friends;85
Conversation;86
Thoughtfulness;87
Style vs. Substance;87
Simplicity;88
Consistency;88
Needs;89
Alone;89
Play;89
Fantasy;90
Parental Respect;90
Value of Society;91
Individuals in Society;91
Ethics;91
Morality in Society.;92
Rights;93
Government;94
Collective;96
Laws;97
Argument;98
Racism;99
Drink;100
Free Will;100
Happiness as a guide;101
What to do.;101
Conclusions;105 WALL31 September 4, 1998
Copyright 1998 by Stephen B. Waters. This page was last built on 11/25/98; 4:18:20 PM. sbwaters@rny.com At the moment I am using Macintosh OS to work on this website.