Random Notes 20150210

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Community Coffee

Growing up in Louisiana, I grew up drinking Community Coffee.  Eventually I got sick of it from over use.  But, I drink it occasionally now that I live far away and cannot purchase the stuff in local stores.  Perhaps once every two weeks I may drink 2 cups of the stuff.  I have the Dark Roast Select, which is a little better than the regular stuff.  

Coffee is the social Sacramental Drink par excellence.  You cannot just pour the stuff from a bottle like soda drinks or bottled water.  You must go through several procedures to make it.  And, like tea, it is good for the essence of social life: conversation.  Gather around a cup of coffee and have communion with conversation.  Take this, all of you and drink it for this is my coffee, made for you. 

Tony Robbins Pareto Principle

The Pareto Principle says that 20% of the causes produce 80% of the effects.  Tony Robbins says that the formula for success is 80% Psychology and 20% Mechanics.  Coming from anybody else, this may sound like another feel good, positive thinking bull crap statement.  But, Tony Robbins has the credibility to back up this assertion as he is one of the richest men in the world.

So, we should focus on managing our mental, emotional and spiritual energies most of the time, and only focus on the mechanics of execution 20% of the time.  A lot of this means to focus on the most important things, and delegate everything else.  Are we “stressing the small stuff”?  Outsource that stuff to India, China or the Philippines.  That is what I do.

The Problem of Induction

I have studied philosophy since 1992 - it has been 23 years.  The Problem of Induction is perhaps, still, the most haunting problem, the most persistent, and still there is no solution in sight.  What is the core of the Problem of Induction?  It is the foundation of the Scientific Method.

Consider the following.

• I have observed one million swans.
• All one million swans are white.
• Therefore, all swans are white.

Or, more scientific:

• I have observed 1000 pieces of copper.
• All 1000 pieces of copper conduct electricity.
• Therefore, all copper conducts electricity.

From the first, do you consider that there are any Black Swans?  

This process, my friends, is the Problem of Induction.  It is the foundation of the Scientific Method.  Yet, it has absolutely no basis in logic or proof.  It is a method that works most of the time, but not all of the time.  

• Jets crash.  
• The conclusions of medical studies change every 2 years.  
• Nobody can predict the stock market.

So, if we are dazzled by the supposed success of our “scientific civilization” we must remember that there is no reason to conclude the truth of any scientific claim - none whatsoever.  

This, when you think about it, is absolutely shocking.

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Freddy Martini