[November 26, 2022] John Stewart Mill, 19th century English philosopher, had an exciting view on truth. He believed that truth is a process by which imperfect or flawed people challenge each other’s biases and incomplete reasoning. In the process, they all become smarter and their ideas stronger and better focused. I’ve tried to do this with my blog, and often I do so awkwardly, but I push boundaries to get folks to think about their beliefs.
We can take his thinking one step further and propose that intellectual uniformity is where ideas die.
In advanced education today, at the collegiate level, truth is no longer the goal of faculty and administrators who profess to value science, history, or the humanities but seek to unify homogeneity and reject any thought that diverges from their ideology. Truth is not the point. Social justice is the goal, and you cannot have both.
The struggle has always been maintaining culture, the part that molds and protects us. But also, since culture is prone to corruption and stagnation, we must constantly work to improve upon it, and creative people are at the forefront of this effort.
“The line separating good and evil passes not through sites, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but through every human’s heart.” – Alexandre Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago
In the pursuit of truth and to overcome tyranny, evil, nihilism, and the desire to destroy all structures, you must first overcome the defects in your own being. That means you have to confront, first and foremost, the evil that lives in your own heart. And to recognize that the responsibility for change begins at the individual level.
Unless the individual straightens out their own being, there is no possibility that the individual’s effect on society can be anything but harmful.
Here is the pursuit of truth, the pursuit so that the world we bring into being will be a better world, not a worse one. Aim for the best for you. That is a moral responsibility, a responsibility in the face of suffering. Life is hard; there is tragedy in the world and evil. If you are not oriented correctly regarding life, you can be warped and twisted until you become resentful, bitter, murderous, and nihilistic.
A person must be able to strengthen oneself so that you can bear the burden of being without becoming corrupt; that is what you are aiming for. Don’t be a puppet for hateful ideologies that are superficially attractive to those who cannot think for themselves.
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Please read my books:
Gen. Satterfield has made some excellent points with this article. I’m going to have to sit and think about this with a cup of hot coffee and my dog sitting next to me. Thank you Gen. Satterfield for once again getting me to think and think more. I hope you and your family have a wonder holiday season. I know you are a Christian so, “Merry Christmas” to you and your family.
Proper higher education gets at “something more” … the pursuit of truth, the pursuit of truth for its own sake. The pursuit of truth transcends pragmatics and utility. It should involve our hearts as well as our minds. A full pursuit of truth involves the whole person — body, mind, and spirit.
Gen. Satterfield has thankfully given us something to really think about and how it impacts us. Don’t gloss over what he has written here. You will truly be a better leader and person if you properly pursue the truth.
….. and that is why it sometimes forces me to think about these things and why I know I’m better for it. Gen. Satterfield’s blog makes my day better.
Another reason to read this blog and the latest book by Gen. Satterfield, “55 Rules for a Good Life” which maybe should read, “a great life.” His book is also about he pursuit of truth. Don’t believe me? Then read it. Here is a link to Amazon where you can buy it for as little as $9.99 USD plus tax and shipping.
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
Right, get his book now. ❤❤❤❤
If you are not pursuing truth in everything you do, then you will be lost in the underbrush of life and never be all you can be.
“In our country the lie has become not just a moral category but a pillar of the State.” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn quote.
This is what Gen. Satterfield is also saying.
Good observation, Frontier Man. Yes, and I think this blog post today is one of the deepest Gen. Satterfield has made in a long time. Occasionally you get something really deep and meaningful and Gen. S has done it today. I hope he continues along this line and gives us more on the “truth.”
Yes, PS. Maybe Gen. Satterfield could actually start this idea going and maybe write a book on the truth and make it focused on the long established idea of truth. He could start with the Bible and ancient philosophers and somehow make it readable for the masses.
Great discussion today on the idea of “truth.” I hope and wish that Gen. Satterfield will continue with this idea. Too many young people, very young, get their ideas from political pundits on tv who know nothing about reality and yet the young adopt those ideas and believe in them deeply. yet, most of it is pure propaganda and yet they cannot see it for what it is. An evil.
Great comment Stacey.
Ah yes, “The Pursuit of Truth?” I noticed that the statement ends in a question mark. Not sure why. I am sure tho that I have a fair understanding of where Gen. Satterfield is going with this article. Do those things that make you corrupt. Do things taht are good for people.
POWERFUL observation by Gen. Satterfield, “Unless the individual straightens out their own being, there is no possibility that the individual’s effect on society can be anything but harmful.”
USA Patriot II, you picked up on it too. I had to re-read that sentence after the first read just to make sure I had it right. Unless you are a good person, you cannot do anything but harm society. That means to get your sh## together and do it now. don’t wait.
Exactly. USA Patriot II and Fred Weber, you guys got it down pat. I’m putting this quote on my refrigerator so I can read it every single day of my life. It is a motivator for me to do better. Gen. Satterfield, you are the man. Keep up your website. I love it.
Me too, thanks Julia for the suggestion. ✔
This sentence is critical to our understanding of how to be a good citizen and good person in our relationships and marriage and for our family and community. Let’s not forget it.
WOW, great observation (or is this insight?) to an important aspect of making the world better. You must first have your act together and not use trying to make the world better a substitute to fulfill or correct your deficiencies.
Greg, exactly right and thanks for taking this idea one step further.
Gen. Satterfield, after reading your book “55 Rules for a Good Life” I can see your thinking in this article too. Hang in there and keep your website up and running. It does me good to read it every day.
Right mainer, and while I am new to the site, I feel the same way.
Excellent article, Gen. Satterfield, and this is what makes this leadership website so useful for me.
Yeah, our political leaders are NOT interested in the pursuit of truth because that is incompatible with their ideas of “social justice.” SC is a non starter if you believe in the truth. They are simply contradictory because social justice means discrimination must occur and at the highest level. That means MORE racism, intolerance, and anti-democracy.
Excellent analysis Max. Good to read another of your comments. I hope you had a great day with your family on Thanksgiving Day. 😊
Thank you, Gil. Yes, had a great time. Now, I’m looking forward to getting a lot of things done between now and Christmas. The holidays are upon us and that is also an opportunity to move forward with my thinking on how the world works and be ready to stand up and be counted, just like Gen. Satterfield does everyday.
Wow, nice comments.
Big Al, yep. Hey, did you get your copy of Gen. Satterfield’s latest book, “55 Rules for a Good Life”? I think it should have been titled 55 Rules for a Great Life, but hey, who am I to suggest something for Gen. Doug Satterfield who is already a proven leader.