Intelligence & Freedom |
Francisco Capella |
Intelligence and FreedomIdeasThese ideas are, as far as possible, a theoretical scientific system: correct, complete, exhaustive, coherent, clear, precise, concise. It is an explained and reasoned system of concepts and relationships, based upon first principles and developed radically and consequently by means of logical inferences, causal implications and empirical observations of reality. The network of concepts and relationships is a structure that proceeds from the simpler, more primitive, abstract and fundamental to the more complex, derived, concrete and practical. It can be useful as an encyclopedic reference and as a didactic manual, for learning and improving intelligence and for the understanding of the theory of freedom. These ideas constitute a general theory of intelligence and freedom, science and ethics, the nature of life, human being and its environment (specially the faculties and limitations of the human mind), from a theoretical, philosophical, formal, general, abstract, universal, fundamental perspective. This work shows the strength of the fundamentals of science and libertarianism against the errors of religious superstition, pseudoscience and statist collectivism. This work is the result of an extended process of learning based upon many readings, conferences, conversations and reflections. The attentive and careful observation of reality, logical reasoning, creative imagination and critical analytical thinking facilitate the acquisition of true, certain and correct knowledge that can be expressed unambiguously by means of direct statements. Some ideas may provoke multiple critiques and reflections, or seem very extreme and difficult to accept, especially for rigid minds. These ideas are presented clearly, directly and radically, without compromises that might distort the knowledge of reality. They may be unpopular, shocking and annoying to those emotionally stuck to many commonly accepted fallacies. The intelligent person can recognize his prejudices, test them and reject them if proven wrong. Bad thinkers are vague, confusing and incoherent, and go on and on without getting to the point. Flatterers say what others want to hear without caring whether it is true or false. The rejection of a correct idea is often caused by problems of understanding or by mistakes in reasoning or argumentation that may be due to lack of knowledge, to the inability to adequately use logical inferences and causal relationships, or to emotional reactions that interfere and block thinking. An idea may be hard to assume because the necessary previous knowledge has not been assimilated yet. In order to avoid problems of interpretation it is necessary to perfectly understand the meanings of the concepts used. Language is a social institution, a product of spontaneous cultural evolution that no one may control. Different persons may use the same word with different meanings. A scientific work must use language with precision and coherence, clearly stating definitions and the relationships among ideas, and avoiding the linguistic manipulation typical of demagogical rhetoric. This work presents and analyses ideas abstractly, without studying their historical usage by specific thinkers, whose interpretation may be very problematic. The validity of knowledge is independent on the person expressing it. References are separated from the main body. This work is an intellectual concentrate that may guide the reflection of the motivated reader. The content is dense and varied and its assimilation requires time and effort. It is a work open to growth, adaptation and evolutionary development produced by future reflections, suggestions, critiques and debates.
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Intelligence & Freedom |
Francisco Capella |