One person and a cup of ice water dispelled any idea that it would take a brigade to determine what caused the accident. I saw this in college and it changed what I was pursuing in life. Ya thug me to question and try to answer things for myself.
Even just the title words of the book "Anotology: the making and unmaking of ignorance" have given me enough food for thought. I think sometimes we choose not to know certain things but are not always aware that we are making such a 'choice'.
You are right, it's fascinating how 'choosing not to know' can operate on a subconscious level. We often think of choices as deliberate, but ignorance can be a much more subtle, ingrained process. Proctor's work really highlights the power of those unconscious decisions, and how they shape our perceptions.
I often wonder how much of our 'knowing' is actually a series of unconscious filters. We tend to accept information that aligns with our existing beliefs and dismiss anything that challenges them, often without realizing we're doing it. It really underscores the need for self-awareness and critical thinking.
Thank you for introducing me to agnotology and R. Proctor. The assumption in Western culture, science, education system, etc. is of course that ‘the more we know the better’, and that ‘there is an ultimate truth that is knowable’.
I’m delighted that you included the more detached view in this reflection on ignorance,
“Overall, ignorance is neither a sin nor a virtue. It is a dynamic force...”
To continue this thread of thought, I'd like to add that Zen Buddhism holds the belief that ‘great doubt is necessary in order to move beyond the concept of dualities’. Great doubt is also equated with the ‘sense of unknowing’, which can be read as a ‘cultivation of ignorance’ instead of the familiar striving for certainty, knowledge, truth.
In his book ‘Nonduality’ Zen Buddhist scholar David R. Loy writes, “Great doubt here refers to a state of perplexity which becomes so intense that it is experienced physically as well as mentally, and which functions to block conceptualizing.”
I have experimented with this and have found the result to be truly perplexing 😅
Thank you, Proctor's work is very interesting. I have a draft program at university on the Psychology of AI where I introduce agnotology. It is a truism that we don't know what we don't know. I wonder if that would align with David E. Loy's work? Is it awakening to overcome doubt, or embrace the not knowing? Nice play in perplexing :-)
I know it is hard for the western mind to understand such intense physical and mental experiences, at least it has been for me:-)
During my PhD, I spent 9 months in a Zen retreat / monastery. I had collected all of the data that I needed to write my theses and that seemed like the ideal place to write, which it was. I did not follow the practice closely, although spoke for hours each day with monks and practitioners and read widely. I came back to the West with an open heart and empty mind, which was soon clouded with fog in the thrust of city life. Rather a contrast... which in time and age has opened again.
well, I also believe that we often don't know what we think we know....
My recent experience with the Zen Buddhist concept of the 'all important great doubt' (as described by Loy) was in relation to a lifelong sense of inadequacy. I did this experiment in parallel to writing the chapter (of Synchronosophy) and simply held the sense/feeling/experience of inadequacy without needing to know why or 'what it's good for' etc. for about 48 hours... after which inadequacy spontaneously revealed itself to me as a gift. It was most exhilarating! It has truly and profoundly shifted my perception of inadequacy as a valuable aspect of being human.
I wouldn't say it's about 'overcoming doubt'. On the contrary. It was a demonstration of the importance of doubt (or rather uncertainty, or unknowing).
How fascinating! What was your PhD about?
I have downloaded Proctor's book on agnotology and started to read 🙏
I really like how your personal experience brought to light 'inadequacy' which is something when acknowledged can help us grow considerably. - as you say it is a valuable aspect of being human.
At the Zen monastery I had a similar spontaneous revelation of gratitude. I realized we have everything and need little.
What a profound shift in perspective! Your experience highlights the power of embracing uncertainty, which is a crucial aspect of both Zen practice and scholarly inquiry. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Agnotology.
My Ph.D. is in Behavioural Economics and Data Science, it was 'the study of irrationality', which is not so much rational thinking as behavioural attitudes. I do less of the economics now but the behavioural (and data science) aspect informs me of my work in AI.
Thank you. I read the book by the former CEO of BP, Lord Browne. He was an engineer and claimed to be the first one to stand up at an oil executives meeting to state we need to change, this was just after Margaret Thatcher's speech to the UN on the ozone layer - it is rather ironic that the industry coined the term “carbon footprint”. Protectionism and calculated ignorance, or causing wilfull blindness.
I worked with someone in London who lived with one of BP's board members under Lord Browne and during that same period I worked on several new product innovations with Gillette when the issues of the ozone layer reached the public's consciousness. Most of these companies don't respond to science or the greater good, unless they see new market opportunities and sadly it is often the case that governments are the conduits to force change through legislation on their behalf. And while embracing the green movement, as a new market sector, as BP and Shell et al did, they also vigorously defended their core fossil fuel businesses. Perhaps I am becoming too cynical, but I always try to look at the intentions and ulterior motives behind new innovations, and they are often highly duplicitous. The green movement is a huge case in point with governments bilking millions out of people who don't drive EV's and dubious solar panel lease contracts to name but two. Here is an article which goes into a couple of case studies. https://gavinchalcraft.substack.com/p/move-fast-and-break-things?r=s3qz0
One person and a cup of ice water dispelled any idea that it would take a brigade to determine what caused the accident. I saw this in college and it changed what I was pursuing in life. Ya thug me to question and try to answer things for myself.
https://youtu.be/raMmRKGkGD4?si=3Ne3g4zOZk5pizPT
That’s a brilliant video, thank you - I knew he was involved in discovering the problem, but not of that video - wow!
Even just the title words of the book "Anotology: the making and unmaking of ignorance" have given me enough food for thought. I think sometimes we choose not to know certain things but are not always aware that we are making such a 'choice'.
You are right, it's fascinating how 'choosing not to know' can operate on a subconscious level. We often think of choices as deliberate, but ignorance can be a much more subtle, ingrained process. Proctor's work really highlights the power of those unconscious decisions, and how they shape our perceptions.
I often wonder how much of our 'knowing' is actually a series of unconscious filters. We tend to accept information that aligns with our existing beliefs and dismiss anything that challenges them, often without realizing we're doing it. It really underscores the need for self-awareness and critical thinking.
Absolutely agree.
Certitude, especially when expressed by scientists, is far more damaging than ignorance. "The science is settled" is a declaration of incompetents.
Absolutely agree - David Deutsch gets this right, the best that science can offer is “good explanations”.
Thank you for introducing me to agnotology and R. Proctor. The assumption in Western culture, science, education system, etc. is of course that ‘the more we know the better’, and that ‘there is an ultimate truth that is knowable’.
I’m delighted that you included the more detached view in this reflection on ignorance,
“Overall, ignorance is neither a sin nor a virtue. It is a dynamic force...”
To continue this thread of thought, I'd like to add that Zen Buddhism holds the belief that ‘great doubt is necessary in order to move beyond the concept of dualities’. Great doubt is also equated with the ‘sense of unknowing’, which can be read as a ‘cultivation of ignorance’ instead of the familiar striving for certainty, knowledge, truth.
In his book ‘Nonduality’ Zen Buddhist scholar David R. Loy writes, “Great doubt here refers to a state of perplexity which becomes so intense that it is experienced physically as well as mentally, and which functions to block conceptualizing.”
I have experimented with this and have found the result to be truly perplexing 😅
Thank you, Proctor's work is very interesting. I have a draft program at university on the Psychology of AI where I introduce agnotology. It is a truism that we don't know what we don't know. I wonder if that would align with David E. Loy's work? Is it awakening to overcome doubt, or embrace the not knowing? Nice play in perplexing :-)
I know it is hard for the western mind to understand such intense physical and mental experiences, at least it has been for me:-)
During my PhD, I spent 9 months in a Zen retreat / monastery. I had collected all of the data that I needed to write my theses and that seemed like the ideal place to write, which it was. I did not follow the practice closely, although spoke for hours each day with monks and practitioners and read widely. I came back to the West with an open heart and empty mind, which was soon clouded with fog in the thrust of city life. Rather a contrast... which in time and age has opened again.
I recommend reading Proctor if you have time.
well, I also believe that we often don't know what we think we know....
My recent experience with the Zen Buddhist concept of the 'all important great doubt' (as described by Loy) was in relation to a lifelong sense of inadequacy. I did this experiment in parallel to writing the chapter (of Synchronosophy) and simply held the sense/feeling/experience of inadequacy without needing to know why or 'what it's good for' etc. for about 48 hours... after which inadequacy spontaneously revealed itself to me as a gift. It was most exhilarating! It has truly and profoundly shifted my perception of inadequacy as a valuable aspect of being human.
I wouldn't say it's about 'overcoming doubt'. On the contrary. It was a demonstration of the importance of doubt (or rather uncertainty, or unknowing).
How fascinating! What was your PhD about?
I have downloaded Proctor's book on agnotology and started to read 🙏
I really like how your personal experience brought to light 'inadequacy' which is something when acknowledged can help us grow considerably. - as you say it is a valuable aspect of being human.
At the Zen monastery I had a similar spontaneous revelation of gratitude. I realized we have everything and need little.
What a profound shift in perspective! Your experience highlights the power of embracing uncertainty, which is a crucial aspect of both Zen practice and scholarly inquiry. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Agnotology.
My Ph.D. is in Behavioural Economics and Data Science, it was 'the study of irrationality', which is not so much rational thinking as behavioural attitudes. I do less of the economics now but the behavioural (and data science) aspect informs me of my work in AI.
Excellent article on why we should question everything including ourselves. The fossil fuel industry actually went a step further coining the phrase “carbon footprint” themselves. Have a read of this: https://open.substack.com/pub/gavinchalcraft/p/just-plains-stupid?r=s3qz0&utm_medium=ios
Thank you. I read the book by the former CEO of BP, Lord Browne. He was an engineer and claimed to be the first one to stand up at an oil executives meeting to state we need to change, this was just after Margaret Thatcher's speech to the UN on the ozone layer - it is rather ironic that the industry coined the term “carbon footprint”. Protectionism and calculated ignorance, or causing wilfull blindness.
Good post, thank you for that.
I worked with someone in London who lived with one of BP's board members under Lord Browne and during that same period I worked on several new product innovations with Gillette when the issues of the ozone layer reached the public's consciousness. Most of these companies don't respond to science or the greater good, unless they see new market opportunities and sadly it is often the case that governments are the conduits to force change through legislation on their behalf. And while embracing the green movement, as a new market sector, as BP and Shell et al did, they also vigorously defended their core fossil fuel businesses. Perhaps I am becoming too cynical, but I always try to look at the intentions and ulterior motives behind new innovations, and they are often highly duplicitous. The green movement is a huge case in point with governments bilking millions out of people who don't drive EV's and dubious solar panel lease contracts to name but two. Here is an article which goes into a couple of case studies. https://gavinchalcraft.substack.com/p/move-fast-and-break-things?r=s3qz0