Objective reality: the last gospel story
What makes us rational and why it makes us human
“In the beginning was the Reason, and the reason was with God, and the reason was God… In it was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not comprehend it.” — John 1:1–5
Greek word λόγος means reason as faculty: the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic. Translating λόγος as Word would be a novelty at the time of writing.
The human mind has two independent facilities it can use to predict future outcomes (stemming from our actions or otherwise):
- The rational mind, and
- A neural net, the irrational mind
The following will touch heavily on the concept of the real world, a.k.a. the objective reality, or simply reality. I will use these terms interchangeably.
We say something is objectively true when it is a part of objective reality. It means it is universally true, for every one of us — whether we believe it true, whether we are aware of its existence, whether we ourselves exist — it is just as true. It makes it absolutely and universally true.
For example, an obstacle on our path exists objectively. Whether we see it, or we are blind to it, whether we believe we can align our energy frequency to pass through — we will collide with it just the same.
Actually, let’s make it really uncomfortable for you.
According to the above, when I say that something is objectively true, I am telling you that it is your truth as well. I am telling you what you should believe.
I am not gonna lie, I don’t know how to answer this question. Not because I don’t have an answer. I do, and it starts with “I am not seeking glory for myself…” That answer, however, had been proven useless time and again — a person asking the question means they are not ready to hear it. It will be the same conversation all over, going through the same paces, following the same script as on that day some 2,000 years ago at the Temple Mount.
Just to give us some context — it was that same day when, (a few hours?) earlier, good people brought that woman before Jesus and told him that the games are over and, one way or another, this is it for him. That he only has one choice left to make. He can throw the first stone — siding with the law he knows is wrong, betraying his own teachings and proving that he is no better than the rest of them.. But when it’s over, he will walk away with his life.
Or he comes openly against the 7th commandment — and then he dies, and the girl dies just the same.
So yeah, the day got off to a bad start. But it wasn’t until later that day, the woman and her accusers gone, when Jesus met an obstacle he won’t ever overcome. That catch 22 of explaining rationality to an irrational person.
And the Light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not comprehend it.
Truth is, we don’t know whether the objective reality actually exists. Nevertheless, we should assume that it does, for purely selfish — anthropocentric, technically — reasons.
Humanity owes its existence to that of the objective reality. Our rational mind is the only part of us that is distinctly human.³ It is a very expensive toy, both to evolve and operate (its tissue consumes 10x energy than the body average). And its only value is in our ability to share our knowledge of the world around us. That one cool trick, however, gets the credit for all the progress and every achievement in human history. The fact that the knowledge can be successfully shared is the best evidence of reality being objective, being universally true.
It is through the rational mind we can know and understand things, by creating mental models for them. Each model emulates a particular aspect of the real world. For example, this section sketches a model of the rational mind. Other examples of mental models are the laws of nature, or poker game rules, or another person.
Connecting individuals models together (a. k. a. connecting dots, or Eureka moment) makes for a more comprehensive c̸o̸m̸p̸u̸t̸e̸r̸ simulation of the objective reality in our heads. Running that simulation (or part of it) is what we refer to as “thought process”.
One of the models we create is for our selves. Simulating ourselves as part of the comprehensive real-world simulation gives rise to our consciousness or self-awareness. Yet another benefit, grace of objective reality, is absolute morals, a universal system of Ethics. We can share the understanding of right vs wrong, Good vs Evil to the extent that our ideas of pleasure and pain are the same.
With respect to an individual, being rational means our beliefs must be rational and, therefore, explainable. It means rationality is a personal choice. It is a commitment to intellectual honesty, a promise to always think for ourselves and to refuse to add anything in our system of beliefs until we can explain why it is true.
And even then, we will use any opportunity to question our beliefs (e.g. noticing something out of place, or have a difference in opinions — no, we don’t agree to disagree, unless we can explain why we should in this particular case).
Rationality is inherently objective. Indeed, every statement in this section is a logical consequence of one simple premise: the existence of the objective reality as one and only universal truth, the ultimate (and the only) authority we recognize and the impartial arbiter we can rely on for reconciling our belives.
Jesus would sometime refer to that authority as the One. After all, that premise is the only irrational belief we allow.. may as well call it faith.
A Neural Net (aka the irrational mind) — The brain’s “hardware” we use in everyday decision making. It knows nothing and understands nothing.
Instead, it tries to guess what to do next based solely on how things look on the surface. Any neural net is basically an image recognition tool. That was the neural net’s original purpose, but it can process any kind of data by treating it like a picture.
Note that being rational by no means makes you right. Nor being irrational makes you wrong.⁴ The ultimate example to that point is Google’s AlphaZero, a neural net that doesn’t know how to play chess, it just tries to look like it does. But it is so good at it, it actually blows out of the water any player before it, computer or human — and it does it with style! Just don’t expect it to explain its brilliant moves -- ’cause, seriously, it doesn't have a clue. Hence the unexplainable AI.
That’s one of the reasons so many of us feel like staying irrational —because it works!
That choice, however, is not without consequences. While a neural net is not always wrong, it is always 100% subjective since it relies on its own experiences and nothing else. The very idea of objective reality is beyond the grasp of an irrational mind. Asking them “do you believe in the existence of the objective reality” is like asking them “do you believe in the existence of something”.
Having no concept of universal truth, leaves them on their own, unable to reconcile their beliefs with others, unable to agree on what is right, on what is wrong, but always longing for someone to tell them what to believe and what to do. For someone with the right appearance — of being successful, powerful or fearsome, thus making it oh so comfortable taking their orders from.
If that doesn’t sound like a happy ending, it is because happiness is never on the table. Giving up your humanity¹ means giving up on your happiness. A relief, if only a short one, from the existential dread of knowing nothing and no one — that’s the best outcome an irrational person could hope for.
Rational Mind vs Neural Nets, Act 8, part 2
Time: circa 30 AD
Place: Temple Mountain, Q6HP+69 Jerusalem
The main characters:
Jesus — a rational person (which really means being human, but by today’s standards it’d be like reaching sagehood, no less).
Father, the One, True God — a metaphorical reference to objective reality.²
Jews [sic] — neural nets/irrational people, some evil due unresolved trauma, some getting seriously annoyed by what they perceive as Jesus’ arrogance.
the devil — the human mind’s fail-safe, the “panic response” subsystem. Never meant to be involved in everyday decisions, it grows into a person’s alter-ego, their evil twin when constantly fed by the fears and insecurities of emotional trauma.
In some places, I add my comments/translation [formatted like this]. Otherwise, it is copy-pasted from the Voice translation of John 8.
Jesus: 42 I come from the one True God, and I’m not here on My own. [“This is not my opinion, these are the facts, the objective truth.”] He sent Me on a mission. If God were your Father [“If you could be bothered to think, to use your rational mind”], you would know that and would love Me. 43 You don’t even understand what I’m saying. Do you? Why not? It is because You cannot stand to hear My voice. 44 You are just like your true father, the devil [a reference to our panic response — evil by design because it does what it takes to make us live, giving zero fucks about the lives of others]; and you spend your time pursuing the things your father loves. He started out as a killer [a reference to Cain, more details in “How to raise a human child”], and he cannot tolerate truth because he is void of anything true. At the core of his character, he is a liar [stealthy to be truly effective, the panic response must steal control without the rational mind ever noticing]; everything he speaks originates in these lies because he is the father of lies. 45 So when I speak truth, you don’t believe Me. 46–47 If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin?
Jews: 48 We were right when we called You a demon-possessed Samaritan.
Jesus: 49–50 I’m not taken by demons. You dishonor Me, but I give all glory and honor to the Father. But I am not pursuing My own fame. There is only One who pursues and renders justice [The objective reality acts as an impartial arbiter, making it possible for people to agree, to reconcile their beliefs, including their understanding of right and wrong, good and evil (to the extent that we agree on what causes us pain and pleasure). That’s why staying rational is morally imperative]. 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who hears My voice and keeps My word will never experience death.
Jews: 52 We are even more confident now that You are demon-possessed. Just go down the list: Abraham died, the prophets all died. Yet You say, “If you keep My word, you will never taste death.” 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died; remember? Prophets — are any of them still alive? No. Who do You think You are?
Jesus: 54 If I were trying to make Myself somebody important, it would be a waste of time. That kind of fame is worth nothing. It is the Father who is behind Me, urging Me on, giving Me praise. You say, “He is our God,” 55 but you are not in relationship with Him [being rational is our relationship with objective rality]. I know Him intimately; even if I said anything other than the truth, I would be a liar, like you. I know Him, and I do as He says. 56 Your father Abraham anticipated the time when I would come, and he celebrated My coming.
Jews: 57 You aren’t even 50 years old, yet You have seen and talked with Abraham?
Jesus: 58 I tell you the truth; before Abraham was born, I AM.
[Any claim made against the objective (same for everyone) reality means speaking for every one of us — the 7 billion living, everyone who used to, every person yet to be born. Even Abraham — Jesus could speak for him, just as I can speak for Jesus.]
59 The people picked up stones to hurl at Him [“How dare you!”], but Jesus slipped out of the temple.
(Lights fade. End of Act 8)
¹ It takes a lot of trauma to make a human child give up on their humanity. A lot, however, is what everyone seems to get. This is from “The Moral Intelligence of Children” by Robert Coles:
‘I tell of the loneliness many young people feel…It’s a loneliness that has to do with a self-imposed judgment of sorts…I remember…a young man of fifteen who engaged in light banter, only to shut down, shake his head, refuse to talk at all when his own life and troubles became the subject at hand. He had stopped going to school…he sat in his room for hours listening to rock music, the door closed…I asked him about his head-shaking behavior: I wondered whom he was thereby addressing. He replied: “No one.” I hesitated, gulped a bit as I took a chance: “Not yourself?” He looked right at me now in a sustained stare, for the first time. “Why do you say that?” [he asked]…I decided not to answer the question in the manner that I was trained…Instead, with some unease…I heard myself saying this: “I’ve been there; I remember being there — remember when I felt I couldn’t say a word to anyone”…The young man kept staring at me, didn’t speak…When he took out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes, I realized they had begun to fill’ (1996, pp.143–144 of 218).
² in Jesus’ own words (NIV translation):
16 ²⁵ “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.
15:²⁶ “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
³ Consider this: to humans are the only species on Earth that are capable of asking questions. We can teach chimpanzees or dogs basic language skills, they are obviously curious animals but lacking the rational mind they never ask “why?…”
⁴ I use right and wrong in their objective sense. An irrational mind (i.e. a neural net) relies on its own experience, and nothing else, making it 100% subjective. It cannot phantom being objective, nor can it comprehend how truth could be universal -- the only truth an irrational mind ever knew is its own truth. Which means it cannot be wrong.
After all, how could it be, unless its experiences are invalid? Oh, and they’d better not be invalid! — ’cause that would imply that there is something really wrong with the person themselves. Throwing in doubt anything and everything they had ever experienced. Their past, their existence and, ultimately, who they are.
… that existential dread, huh?
