Wednesday, September 02, 2009

the lie in a reflection

It seems to me that what separates man from the rest of the beasts is not our ability to use tools, or speak, or even reason but our ability to lie to ourselves with our knowing it.

Some call it cognitive dissonance, most don't see it in themselves, but all do it.

It is so easy to see other peoples faults and strengths and so hard to see our own... I've know people who seemingly had such a bad understanding of self that when they spoke about their-self they seemed to be speaking about someone else and I wonderer how much like that I am.

I realize that I do not really know what I look like, yea I've seen pictures, video and reflections but when It comes down to it I've never seen me.

The same goes for the rest of me, sure I have the on going dialogue in my head of my thoughts that seems to reason out my actions and interactions but I wonder when people tell about me it often seems like they are talking about a different person. I wonder if I only ever really see just a reflection.

2 comments:

lu said...

I wonder if I'll ever just stop worrying about me and how honest I'm being with myself, whether my actions are reasonable. It's crazy making and while some compulsion tells me it's out of concern to keep others safe and happy I witness that it does the opposite. I wonder how people act on faith, trusting self and others without questioning motive.

It would be nice to just be without so much self involved in the process.

djinn said...

Cognitive dissonance roks!!!111 ONE!!!

Lying to ourselves is what keeps us from throwing ourselves over bridges. Lie, lie, lie. It's better than the alternative.

Yay! Knowing the truth is a bad, bad, bad idea. Pretend. Capes, tights, the well-chosen accessory all help. I blame Plato. "Know thyself" is terrible advice. Looke what it got Socrates--a hemlock milkshake, sans both chocolate and ice cream. Puuulease.