The Four Corners of Doubt

Suppose a new concept, edict, or law comes your way. In simplified terms, you have four options, rejection, acceptance, understanding, and belief. The “pusher” to anyone of these is your degree of doubt. Total doubt leads to rejection, while absolutely no doubt (or certainty) leads to belief. I’m not convinced the latter is absurd as claimed by Voltaire, as total belief a necessary state for the creation of or proof of new ideas.

Others prefer to understand or at least try to understand the condition at hand. This illustrates partial doubt but a measure of conviction necessary for understanding. Finally, a state of resident doubt but required compliance leads us to acceptance. For example, in your work you may accept some rules of the employers but neither believe nor understand them. In politics, you will see much belief and rejection but little understanding. Many simply accept what is promoted.

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Behavioral Science and Problem-Solving

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Robin Hood and Cliven Bundy

Actor Herbert Mundin, playing Munch in the 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood (starring Errol Flynn) is charged by Prince John's troops of slaying a royal deer in the royal Sherwood forest. The punishment is death. Though the events of this film are a portrayal of events dating to the 15th century, they became by the 19th century a "robbing from the rich for the poor" theme so often depicted in other film genres. The William Tell legend is another. The plot is simple. A poor man desperate to survive tastes the forbidden fruits owned by the authority, and is condemned. I would love to hear this event debated on the current TV news shows. On the one hand, Munch would be a champion in service to his family. On the other hand, his legal rights are restricted by legal authority. so, the argument would proceed. Legal scholars cite statutes chapter and verse, while others would root for the common man. Fast forward to 2014. Parallels ...

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