Two + Two Equals Five

"Death is a dogma. It can't be debated or explored rationally. Those who do, don't seem to return to quantify it."  --Simply thinking

Relatively speaking, in the realm of mathematics, preciseness can be relied upon, science too. There is the "scientific" method; we all have been more or less indoctrinated with it from our school years. That in the world which is measurable, quantifiable can be sure; it can be said to be true. So there are absolutes in life.

By mathematical, demonstrable methods, because we can see actual objects, count them, the sum of two and two is known. It can be argued for a "truth." The rising and the setting of the sun, the seasons of the earth, they too can be argued for as "truth." Many readers will quickly, instinctively argue that two and two is four! Why? Because it's true!

What is truth? Is it my way or your way? Is truth what a powerful person says it is, or do I decide, choose my truths?
The Webster dictionary defines truth simply as: the state of being, the body of real things, events and facts. Its more archaic definition interestingly is: fidelity or constancy.

G.K. Chesterton who wrote on many philosophical subjects early in the last century reprises again in The Complete Thinker, the words and ideas of Chesterton edited by Dale Ahlquist. Alquist quotes Chesterton, “Thinking means connecting things.” He writes of Chesterton that 'he wants to know and to connect everything.'
 Instead today we, "want religion kept out of politics. We want it kept out of economics. Well, we want religion kept out of everything! But we have also separated meaning from art, and art from beauty. We have separated health from human dignity, and have separated the family from the home. We have separated the big questions from the little questions and neither is getting answered very well." Chesterton argues that it is today, 'the current failing of man to engage in thinking clearly.'

Things then aren't going very well for the "oneness" under this scenario, now are they? There is, instead, more and growing dichotomies, dualities and increasing egos to match. "You have yours and I have mine," is a prevalent mindset. When much of life is "relative," we, each of us, may fall into the notion that we are the dictators of ourselves, the centers of our own universes. Our feelings, transient as they may be, become the arbiters of existence in the worldly realm. If it feels good, makes us happy, well then--do it!

Without "natural law", the slippery slope that is life becomes entirely negotiable; there is no good or bad. So why isn't the sum of two and two five? How can anyone say that's wrong??

 "Every man has a different philosophy; this is my philosophy and it suits me" – the habit of saying this is mere ego. A universal philosophy is not constructed to fit a man; a universal philosophy is constructed to fit a universe. Each person can no more possess a private belief than one can possess the sun and moon privately." --Chesterton

*In other words,
John's truth is relative, while Bob's truth is absolute; therefore John accepts Bob's truth. Bob does not accept John's truth.
OR: It's true for everyone that nothing is true for everyone.
In logical/mathematical terms:
If A, then B.
If B, then not/negative A.
Therefore, if A, then not -A.
This form of argument is called a hypothetical syllogism, a statement of deductive logic which here proves false, because one cancels the other out, though many believe it in its simpler, verbal forms. To put it in mathematical symbols:
 x=y, y=z, therefore x=z.

Think about that.

*To review the truth or falseness of this type of statement, see the classic text on the subject, Copi's Logic.

Garden Goodness

In the spring of each year, north or south hemisphere, there is a natural preoccupation with things natural, things of the dirt. It is after all, in the lowliest of substances, dirt, that the most vital things in our lives are produced and consumed to the benefit of all creatures.

Whether you are experiencing autumn or spring at the moment, your focus is the same, the produce of the earth. In the planting and subsequent harvest season, each may feel with himself a connection to that most elemental soil of human life. In some cultures, it is the dirt itself that is sometimes consumed as a nutritional source of certain elements. While in the west, we are thoroughly indoctrinated in the "dirtiness of the dirt" it is not universally so.

Re-examining our gut reactions and views towards that simple substance, dirt, can be very revealing and enlightening. Many of us for reasons that are economic as well as sociological have a very minimal connection to soils, gardens or food production. We are nearly wholly insulated from what does occur to produce food before it appears on our plates.

The production of some or all of our food is something that past generations were well acquainted with. They knew about planting seeds, tending them and raising them to harvest. In the days before 'welfare' and 'social workers,' there was, in most communities, thought given towards those unable to provide for themselves. While the most destitute might find themselves assigned to a 'poor house' in which they lived and worked for their food, others through the natural community networks, established by where they lived, shared or bartered food in various ways; people shared knowledge about growing it, storing it and cooking it. Long before universities and 'food scientists,' many communities effectively determined the needs of health, and the food which might be consumed to acquire it.

Today in the 'politics of food' the base of this knowledge has been whittled away, now left to the experts, to 'agribusiness'. And yet many in our societies are not content with their food sources today. They question its quality, its origin, its method of cultivation-- and they worry. For some, food today is now a source of worry.

Many worry that they don't have enough or the right kinds of food, and worry about its healthfulness or availability. Some have advocated small community gardens, markets and localizing produce as possible solutions.
In the book, Small Plot, Big Harvest by DK Publishing the authors take home the idea that on a small patch of land or even an apartment balcony combined with a little know-how, one can produce a significant portion of ones' own food. This is a very valuable skill, the authors note, a life skill nowadays overlooked.

With excellent illustrations and simple explanation, Small Plot, Big Harvest, gives the most novice grower the confidence to experience the success and pleasure of producing their own foodstuffs, and nothing will taste any better than those produced and consumed by the same person(s)!
Once you learn to grow food for yourself, growing a little extra to share with others in your community is easy, so give it a go--surprise your self. Support community initiatives to allow small scale food raising in your hometown. Everything from honey bees to chickens, to small fruit orchards and vegetable gardens are important and worth consideration.