by John Philipp
Member since:
August 10, 2006

Thought~Byte No.172

October 13, 2009 11:59 PM EDT
views: 170 | comments: 90

Thought~Byte No.172

 

 

 

Concept and words by John Philipp. Drawings by Phil Frank.

(The comments below are where the wisdom is found.)

 
link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 90

John Philipp Oct 13, 2009, 11:59pm EDT
Thought~Bytes are posted every Wednesday. To see all Thought~Bytes and get an email when new ones are posted, please join Thought~Bytes
John Philipp Oct 13, 2009, 11:59pm EDT
Mini Thought~Bytes (words without drawings) appear every day on my Twitter page.
Jan S. Oct 14, 2009, 12:03am EDT
I can't think this means we should give up on truth-seeking. I'll have to chew on this byte a bit more.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 12:15am EDT
This is a complex one, Jan. Chew on it and let it simmer.

There will be other Bytes on this theme. (Knowledge versus Knowing).
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 1:16pm EDT
Jan, now read the comment thread. Lot of great interpretations of this Byte.
blaine d. Oct 14, 2009, 12:17am EDT
then where is it!????, could it be in front of my nose??great one!
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:01am EDT
That is one aspect of this, Blaine. Thanks.
Angel sent from God Secret Sisters Oct 14, 2009, 12:24am EDT
Yeah I am searching all over and I can not find it....I am going around in circle no one can tell me anything but lies!!
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:01am EDT
Janet, your search is over.
Angel sent from God Secret Sisters Oct 14, 2009, 12:29pm EDT
John you are a sweetheart!! :D {hugs}
Heidi S. Oct 14, 2009, 12:40am EDT
You have to pause to see the truth?
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:02am EDT
Another important aspect to this, Heidi. Thanks.
Robert - just a simple man - B. Oct 14, 2009, 12:43am EDT
And if Life doesn't 'Fit' - you have to 'Acquit'
You cannot call me guilty cuz I've been beaten and bit.
Kushal Poddar Oct 14, 2009, 1:28am EDT
Lovely but I, for one, am not going to make you leave.

behind an eclipse
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:06am EDT
Robert, using the term "fit" makes me think that sometimes it's easier for the square peg to round off than to keeping trying to squeeze into the round hole.

Life doesn't 'fit' assumes that Life is the one who should do the adjusting.
Kushal Poddar Oct 14, 2009, 1:29am EDT
This is one search which keeps us alive.

behind an eclipse
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:07am EDT
True, Kushal, many devote their life to this search. The question to ponder is why.
~Sia McKye~ Oct 14, 2009, 1:36am EDT
I have to think on this one John. Excuse me while a take another Alka seltzer Plus. The truth is, my brain is preoccupied with the plop plop fizz fizz, and please god let there be relief.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:07am EDT
See, Sia, you found one truth without even trying :)
Elizabeth R. Oct 14, 2009, 1:50am EDT
The truth is out there.

The search continues . . .
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:08am EDT
Alternatively, Elizabeth, the truth is not out there and the search continues.
suzie muscrat Oct 15, 2009, 12:25pm EDT
The truth is in ourselves
John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 12:48pm EDT
Possibly the only truth that counts, Suzie.
Tanya P. Oct 14, 2009, 2:00am EDT
As opposed to the truth that is there??
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:09am EDT
That is key to this, Tanya. Whether there is truth to find at all.
Gail Nobles Oct 14, 2009, 6:57am EDT
It seems that the truth isn't there because many people around you may be rejecting the truth. It may seem that you are the only one living in truth. The majority can be wrong. Remember Noah of Noah's Ark.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:11am EDT
That implies, Gail, that the only truth is yourself. While it isn't always obvious, I believe most great religious are built on that very premise.
JOHN BECK Oct 14, 2009, 7:06am EDT
Socrates sought with dialectic. Stephen Hawking seeks it with mathematics. Truth remains elusive (except for those who find it in dogma).
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:13am EDT
You raise two interesting points, John.

1) You can use many different methods and learning the method has value if you consider the process as important as the end point.

2) Be wary of people who say the have found the truth.

As always, thanks for your connections.
Jennifer aka Jenn B. Oct 15, 2009, 10:34am EDT
and here out of my memory was a statement"these truths are self evident"
John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 11:54am EDT
Your civics teacher would be proud, Jenn. From the Declaration of Independence "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, ..."
John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 11:54am EDT
... and, the English weren't wary of them and see all the trouble that caused.
Robin O. Oct 14, 2009, 7:22am EDT
That we are always searching thrroughout our lives for truth which is within one's self and self is activley searching outside itself for it where is doesnt' exist.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:14am EDT
Well put, Robin. Your point is also a key aspect to this Byte. Thanks.
MrsRoad Runner Oct 14, 2009, 8:35am EDT
Truth - what is truth anyways?
I like Robins definition :0)
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:16am EDT
That raises an interesting point, Mrs. R.

If you can define something does that mean it exists? Or, if it doesn't exist, then how can you define it?

OK, I clearly need a caffeine refill :)
MrsRoad Runner Oct 15, 2009, 12:54pm EDT
LOL!!
Truth, the path is a fun ride on the search for it though hu?
Then when we find our "truth" it changes!!
Life is just not fair :0)

If the definition was just the same to everyone.....
John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 1:13pm EDT
Life probably is "fair" except what we mean by that is making things work out the way "we" want.

I like "the path is a fun ride." Amen.
Vinod Sailes Oct 14, 2009, 9:34am EDT
Come on John, tell me not in mournful numbers life is but an empty dream. I thought I was searching to find out where (if at all) exactly you may have lied. Anyway, yours is a great post with a lot of truth in it.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:17am EDT
Vinod, you raise the whole concept of "searching." We haven't really discussed that side of this Byte yet.
Laurie C. Oct 14, 2009, 9:53am EDT
Truth is like a man's grasp -- if it doesn't exceed his reach, what's a heaven for? ;)
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 10:19am EDT
Intriguing, Laurie. Something doesn't have to exist (or be obtainable) to have value. Thanks.

Hmmm. (the the sound of pondering
K D. Oct 14, 2009, 11:40am EDT
Yes! Lots of pondering!
K D. Oct 14, 2009, 11:40am EDT
This kind makes me think that truth cannot be found. I'm not sure that that is accurate. I think I need more thought on this one!
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 1:19pm EDT
There is no "right" answer, Karen. And that's the truth!
Angela A. Oct 14, 2009, 11:45am EDT
For some, yes.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 1:19pm EDT
Feels like dodging to me, Angela :)
Sandre M. Oct 14, 2009, 12:00pm EDT
I've been learning more about Zen meditation and it has been difficult to "unlearn" the Western way of contemplating things. Whenever I'm considering this type of philosophical question, I look at baby anythings (humans, ducks, etc.). They don't need a cathedral to tell them "hungry", "happy", or how to "be". They simply are.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 1:21pm EDT
Great example, Sandre. Thanks.

Sometimes it helps if instead of "unlearning" something, you just drop it.
Sandre M. Oct 14, 2009, 1:43pm EDT
I know, it's just hard to let go of all those big, heavy books people hit me over the head with growing up!
Sunaura *. Oct 14, 2009, 12:08pm EDT
We are all at different levels of evolution therefore one's truth may not be another's. As they say, "the truth is in there."
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 1:21pm EDT
Sunaura, Id say one's truth is never another's.

Thanks.
Beaker (just Beaker) Oct 14, 2009, 12:11pm EDT
Of course it's not there! It's a given that anything we look for is always in the last place we look, so we won't find the truth until we reach the last place we can look for it--our deathbed.
Bill W. Oct 14, 2009, 12:43pm EDT
You saved me, Beaker! For a minute I thought I was bonkers. I'm OK with "If you're searching for it you haven't found it." I'm not real energetic in the search but occasionally I find pieces of it (No! John, I don't claim to have found it all) that astound me. Truth - lots of men out there beat their wives, I guess that's life, but not everyone's.

Rest easy
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 1:24pm EDT
Or it's always there but looking is not the way to find it.
Larry W. Oct 14, 2009, 12:33pm EDT
truth is in him
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 1:24pm EDT
If I can add and he is in you, it'll work for me, Larry.
Bill W. Oct 14, 2009, 12:46pm EDT
I guess I'm OK with that as long as every life is considered unique so the Truth is redefined for every life and never really realized because we each turn over new rocks and find new truths as we age.

Rest easy
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 1:26pm EDT
OK. In addition let's say Truth is always there but when we see it we don't call it that.
Vivian A. Oct 14, 2009, 1:41pm EDT
Okay. I'm on board with this one. I agree, life is the search for understanding. Understanding and truth are wildly different concepts, but it is so much easier to place things in their tidy, little boxes. Truth in the empirical sense does exist, but humans are not empirical -- they are chaos personified.

I think people hope or wish that if they find all the empirical answers that they will find the truth. The real question is: The truth of what?

This is an awesome dive into complexity theory John. I so need to focus on other things, but I love it.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 2:22pm EDT
As an offshoot of your line of thinking, Vivian, when you wrote "life is the search for understanding," I thought — I wonder if that started after we got kicked out of the Garden of Eden?

"Truth in the empirical sense does exist" One way to look at this is that it means that certain things meet our definitions and in that sense is a circular argument. What do they say, "The human race is run on a circular track?"
P.W. Dowdy Oct 14, 2009, 2:14pm EDT
I would say that life is a search for the truth (in a world where it is very difficult to find).
Sometimes truth slaps you in the face. At other times, you have to probe of it! Excellent discussion, John.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 2:24pm EDT
I agree, Pat, the discussion quality is excellent and interesting.

Maybe we shouldn't use the word "Search" as that implies an effort and some say truth is only there when you stop trying to find it.
P.W. Dowdy Oct 15, 2009, 12:05am EDT
I might change it to "yearn for the truth". Searching could require intellectual prowess.

Yearming, on the otherhand, is the mere inclination of The Heart toward Truth.
John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 1:11pm EDT
Good option, Pat.
brojer n. Oct 14, 2009, 3:06pm EDT
Walking towards the light is the first step towards finding truth. One definition is that which always was, and is, and will always be..
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 8:47pm EDT
Brojer, your comment made me think that "accepting" might be a better verb to connect with Truth than "searching."
Dennis Gilman Oct 14, 2009, 3:09pm EDT
"Quod est veritas?"--Pontius Pilate

For me "Truth" is not a destination; it's a journey.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 8:48pm EDT
May the truth be with you in your journey, Dennia.
Linda T. Oct 14, 2009, 6:26pm EDT
If the truth is within you a search never has to be conducted. I rarely find things I am searching for.
John Philipp Oct 14, 2009, 8:48pm EDT
Well put, Linda. Thanks.
Jeff K. Oct 14, 2009, 9:10pm EDT
It is quite natural for human beings to never be satisfied with their achievements. Humans always have to reach out for new experiences.

(Reminds me of the verbal introductions that begin Star Trek episodes ... "to seek out new civilizations .... to boldly go where no one has gone before") ...

It has been said that there is only one way to be truly satisfied. We must search our souls and measure our daily activities to become more spiritual and draw ourselves nearer to God. That, alone, will be to our credit and will satisfy our built in curiousity.

John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 12:10am EDT
I agree, Jeff, and I see that as a different searching than searching for the Truth.

Also, I feel you can be satisfied with your experiences and still be eager for more — maybe that's just semantics.
Jeff K. Oct 15, 2009, 5:20pm EDT
Semantics, perhaps. However, the fact that you are "eager for more" proves my point. It's the feeling of "wanting more" that drives the human psyche. There really is only One Place to look. With all due respect, that's where I choose to look.
Lydia (part of the solution) Shelley Oct 14, 2009, 9:54pm EDT
I gotta wholeheartedly disagree with this one. As the X-files so frequently pointed out... the truth is out there. Those who don't believe in absolute truth don't really believe in anything at all... and they are the ones who are messing up our world, because since they don't believe in truth they don't believe any of it really matters. Without truth nothing can make sense.
John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 12:11am EDT
I guess my question then is, Lydia, does it need to make sense to be celebrated?
Sheila Deeth Oct 15, 2009, 1:11am EDT
Frequently a searching where it isn't, that's for sure.
John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 9:57am EDT
True, Sheila, and it isn't eveywhere.
Ruth J. Oct 15, 2009, 1:49am EDT
Wonderful conversation. Do we need to define truth before we search for it? Oh, wait. It isn't there. If it isn't there we can't define it. Circular thinking, Like which came first, the chicken or the egg? We can wonder, contemplate and question but where would you search for that answer? I think it must be right beside the "truth".
John Philipp Oct 15, 2009, 9:58am EDT
That's where it always was, Ruthe.

Thanks for the clarification.
Sandi S. Oct 16, 2009, 8:37pm EDT
It's there (the truth)... and searching for us. :)
John Philipp Oct 16, 2009, 10:29pm EDT
Nice twist, Sandi. I think it found us.
Larry M. Oct 16, 2009, 9:10pm EDT
So I'll look elsewhere. I'm sure it was somewhere around here. Of perhaps it's over there in the dark where it's hard to see things. No. I'll just look over here in the light.
John Philipp Oct 16, 2009, 10:30pm EDT
I think it's always in the light, Larry. Good call.
Elizabeth A. Oct 17, 2009, 3:38am EDT
To find truth your intelligence and emotions should be in sync.
John Philipp Oct 17, 2009, 7:17am EDT
Excellent point, we haven't discussed in this context, Elizabeth.

One thought is that our emotions will often hinder the "search" for truth — or mask that truth is right there all the time.
Sharon B. Oct 22, 2009, 7:43pm EDT
I have over 10,000 e-mails....so please bear with the generic comment... thanks for sharing
John Philipp Nov 2, 2009, 5:44pm EST
Take care, Sharon.
LaRue B. Nov 2, 2009, 4:44pm EST
"Truth?" Where do we find it? I am truly amazed at the amount of lies in this generation. Grown children lie to their parents and other adults. I would never have lied to my parents. We were taught not to; that it was disrespectful. My birth children do not lie to me as I have raised them not to. My adopted children lie all the time and think nothing of it. Their friends do the same. If I had found reason to lie to my parents, I would have felt ashamed and found so much guilt.
I had a customer once, who told me I was too honest as he would have paid more for his lodging in our motel. He made his offer and it was much higher than what our rates were, but I gained his respect.
John Philipp Nov 2, 2009, 5:46pm EST
Well put, LaRue. "Truthfulness" is an important value. At least I think so.

In this Byte we're also talking about Truth with a capital "T."

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16961, "Pacino"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.