SIXTH WAY OF WISDOM -- A Arthur M. Jackson
Copyright 2001, 2003, 2006
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SIXTH WAY OF WISDOM: Know and endeavor to improve yourself; work to be physically and psychologically healthy.
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The first, most important level of self-knowledge is knowledge of how one's mind works.
“Imagine this. You are paddling a little rowboat against the current in a small lake. Your friend, sitting across from you, is busily conversing, and you are using all the energy you can muster to keep the boat moving. The two of you are heading across the lake for lunch. It’s a bit late and you are very hungry. Out of nowhere, crunch! Another boat has collided with yours, apparently moving into your path. You are furious and spin around to attack the boat’s pilot. But no one is in the boat, which is drifting by itself across the lake. What happens to your attack? Unless you are a very tense person, your attack will dissipate. You realize that no one is at fault, so there is no one to blame. While you may still be a bit frustrated, it is likely that your blood pressure will normalize quickly and you will continue across the lake. No explosion will disrupt your continuing actions.”[1]
However, if the individual in the boat is a tense person they may turn on their partner, “Why did you let me run into this drifting boat?” Or, if they don’t want to attack the partner, there is always God. “Why, God, did you let this boat drift into my path?” If they are an atheist then there are one's genes, or one's Mother, “Mother, why didn’t you teach me better so I would be more careful and never make mistakes?”
But if an individual is ready to step out of the callow behavior of blame and deal with what is actually happening, and over which they have some control, then they are ready to recognize that emotions are not caused by what happens “out there,” but come out of beliefs as we interpret the things life throws our way.
And this takes us to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) developed by Dr. Albert Ellis[2], and put into a very useful and usable form by Dr. Michael Edelstein[3]. Science of Ethics takes as its foundation the ideas proposed by Ellis. Therefore, an individual’s beliefs are seen as a primary element to be studied to understand their behavior and emotions. And these beliefs are evaluated based on their effects. When the effects are not consistent with the individual’s goals, and the maintenance and development of the species then it must be recognized that the relevant beliefs need to be examined and changed. That change needs to be guided by the best empirical evidence supporting moral behavior. Recognizing that an individual’s beliefs are the key to everything else is the fundamental approach of Science of Ethics. And, as long as memes are a factor in controlling their choices this approach is equally necessary in situations where the individual has been so impacted by trauma or deficiency that their behavior is not within the normal range.
Next and of vital importance is to learn to integrate all parts of one's being. One must learn how to tune into the part of one's mind that lies below the threshold of the conscious but is involved in much of one's behavior. The best ways to control all parts of one's being by becoming more unified must be found. In addition individuals must understand themselves in relation to others. The value of a given trait, ability, characteristic, interest, etc. for the individual and for society depends in important ways on how it relates to the given place and time of one's life. "In the world of the blind the one-eyed person leads." (In spite of Voltaire's inspired writing about a contrary example.)
In the following discussion the term body will be used. Within that term is included also what has traditionally been called mind or spirit. "Mind," "spirit," and "soul" are psychological constructs and exist as vaguely defined structures and functions within one's body. In a Science of Ethics it is assumed that the mind, spirit, and soul are formed of the same stuff and function within the same laws as the rest of the body.
One must know or be able to learn as necessary all the pertinent details about one's physical, psychological, biological, chemical, and functional characteristics. One must know what their body is -- its enzymes, hormones, antitoxins, cells, organs, systems, and everything else.
How to maintain good health is currently a complex question that is answered differently by different groups and those with different worldviews. I take the approach that the methods of science provide the best way to address this issue as those methods do for any other issue.
Each practitioner brings their own worldview and experiences to how they define and interpret physical health. The worldview provided by a Science of Ethics should allow health to be approached and dealt with the best way possible. Certainly the field of medicine incorporates much ignorance, blind faith, misinterpretation, charlatanry, exploitation, misuse of power, etc. Partially, the foregoing is true because most people in western society (the clients if not the care-givers) accept folk religions which continue to provide a supernatural, non-causal world view. A good example of this is presented below.
[p. 2]
A news article [4] reporting a study dealing with the relationship of longevity and beliefs provides an example of the kinds of issues that should be dealt with by a Science of Ethics. This study was done by William Franklin Simpson, a scientist on the faculty of Emporia State University of Emporia, Kansas. He compared the life span of Christian Scientists (graduates of Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, a Christian Science school) with liberal arts graduates of the same year from University of Kansas. Although Christian Science practitioners abstain from alcohol and tobacco, according to Simpson's research they die at a younger age than do persons who use current medical technology. Mary Baker Eddy who founded Christian Science taught that illness was just a product of the mind. She taught her followers to avoid medical therapies and to treat illness with prayer.
Simpson's research should be seriously considered by any who would avoid modern medical treatment in favor of some "holistic" approach, or other non-scientific method. Of course it needs to be replicated and involve more subjects to clarify the conclusion. And, a Science of Ethics must utilize such studies to provide the best foundation and focus possible for dealing with all health issues. (See VOLUME II, Chapter 20, "Health, Medicine, and a Science of Ethics.") [5]The Enlightened Person must utilize this information as they strive to be in as good health as contemporary medicine allows. And part of doing that is to adopt and follow the best available world view.
Another component of good health is regular medical examinations. If one is to be healthy there must be some way of discovering those types of difficulties which develop so slowly or unnoticeably that individuals do not realize their presence. Of course significant improvements in blood tests, etc. are essential. In addition when medicine is placed on a more individual basis, as genetic tests are making more and more possible, rather than depending primarily on norms and averages, more subtle difficulties will come into view to aid each person in achieving a constant state of good health. This will help more persons to maintain a healthy, active body till death. Probably all persons would need to have their own expert health diagnostic system (CTRES -- Computer Tutor, Recorder, and Expert Systems) which would include full informatin on their genome. This would allow good treatment and the need to see professionals only when their system indicates the need. (Also, see VOLUME II, Chapter 19, "The Knowledge Bank and an Enlightened Community.")[6]
[p. 3]
Being in good physical condition is a goal to be sought. Those seeking to achieve a Sustainable Belief that their Life Has Meaning should do their best to achieve and maintain it in order to get the most from life. However, the foregoing is considered more deeply as part of the Seventh Way of Wisdom (Develop and adopt a perceptual framework in which pain does not prevent the achievement of a Sustainable Belief that your Life Has Meaning) and the Second Way of Wisdom (Seek to maintain and develop humanity). Under the latter Way it might be possible that one's poor health can turn into a bonding gift to humanity where the pain is balanced with infinite joy.
One should know of what they are capable: their physical strength, how fast they can run, how far they can jump, how much pain they can withstand, etc. Sports are one of the best ways to learn one's capabilities. However, these sports should be selected for all round good health. They should be those which allow the body to be tested and kept in good working order while enhancing joy, love, respect of other persons.
The only usefulness of sports must not be judged to be their function of showing the better coordination and physical perfection of one person over another. Surely those so gifted should have the chance to demonstrate their abilities and accomplishments just as artists have their chance to utilize and develop their skills and interests. However, sports on a different plane -- a more important one -- must be organized for a different purpose. This purpose is not to glorify the best individuals, but to allow all persons to test and gain confidence in themselves. The goal is not to demonstrate perfection, but to maintain their body at a good working level.
Participation in physical activities provides a way for the individual to learn that a Sustainable Belief that their Life Has Meaning does not mean complete satisfaction during each moment of life. Here individuals should learn self-reliance as differentiated from group support. Enlightened Persons know that there is always someone to help them when they need it. But here persons learn how to judge when they need it. Individuals must learn that though they are completely exhausted -- when every step is made only with the utmost effort, the lungs seem to be aflame, the muscles ache from the effect of strain -- they can go on by their own effort. And that plain tenacity is often the primary tool of achievement. In this situation no one else can pick up the responsibility. Others may encourage, but only the individual can achieve. If they persevere they have developed and thereby gained in personal power and self-esteem. If they quit they have delayed an opportunity to advance their development and experience the joy that comes from pursuing a difficult task to its successful conclusion. Of course, this physical trial by ordeal must not surpass the capabilities of the individual concerned in such a way that it stunts rather than helps them. And we must not fall into the trap of sacrificing the many so that the few can "succeed," or, to sacrifice the few so the many can "succeed."
Exercise is definitely necessary for a healthy body. In addition to the more strenuous sports mentioned above to help persons discover their capabilities, all exercise should be encouraged that aids in maintaining a good physical and mental state. If persons do manual labor they, perhaps, get enough exercise. However, as work becomes more sedentary, workers must look elsewhere for their exercise. One source is games (that is making exercise fun) such as tennis, volleyball, golf, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, bike riding, etc. Others might involve themselves in compact exercises such as calisthenics, aerobics, etc. Another source that might complement the foregoing at least for some people is combining exercise and music: ballet, tap-dancing, square dancing, and all other forms of dance. In addition to promoting good physical health, dancing might -- at least in some cases -- aid in the integration of physical development to help individuals who missed stages in their bodily integration -- especially in infancy -- (e.g., the crawling stage, sufficient holding and nurturing touch) learn how to overcome these deficiencies. Surely different approaches will benefit different individuals.
[p. 4]
Perhaps, in many cases several hours of strenuous work each week could be performed. This might lighten the load of others, and prevent some people from working like beasts of burden the bulk of their lives. All persons may have to shoulder part of the hard work of the world to ensure that no one becomes overly burdened with psychologically unimportant work.
However, psychologically unimportant is a technical concept. It includes the idea that a person goes through many stages of maturity and is therefore capable of learning and gaining from many diverse occupations and activities. What would appear to be completely boring, unrewarding, exhausting, etc. cannot be judged psychologically unimportant at face value, but only in relation to the person who is performing it.
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WHAT ABOUT NUDITY AND THE BODY? .
When thinking of health, one can hardly avoid thinking of nudity. A big stimulus to having a healthy body is having a healthy body judged to be important by some respected person or persons. When one is in the nude, one's body naturally becomes more important because instead of wearing false shoulders or bustles one must present exactly that body which one possesses. One has, therefore, another benefit for keeping a healthy and beautiful body and to make the body attractive by developing it.
But, at the same time one must realize that every healthy human body is beautiful. However, this is not to say that some are not more beautiful than others. All persons will vary from the ideal. Each of us have our special beauty and all of us are average or below average in most of our attributes. Scars, birthmarks, deformities are part of us, and have their own unique beauty when seen through loving eyes. The biceps may not quite match those of Hercules. The busts may not rival those of Aphrodite. The torso, legs, head, etc. may lack the shape and proportion that is considered ideal. However, the most ordinary body is still a thing of beauty when filled with a loving spirit. One need only open one's eyes and cast off the limiting misconceptions of a narrow-minded culture to see that this is true. In this regard plastic surgery in all its aspects needs a philosophical underpinning. We need to find guidelines to clarify how far it is wise to alter one's appearance to fit some ideal imagine. Like all aspects of the WAYS OF WISDOM the final answer is an empirical one. What are all the effects and consequences of such surgery? What things move one toward a Sustainable Belief that their Life Has Meaning, what things have no effect, or move one away from it?
The same thing is true for nudity. However, it would seem clear that an Enlightened Person must discard the idea that the nude body is indecent, whether in the flesh, in pictures, or in sculpturing. There is overwhelming evidence that the nude human body is not per se obscene. Is it per se sexually stimulating? It is often looked upon as such by non-nudists. However, there is no reason for it to cause more sexual stimulation than does the clothed human body, and viewed under the same circumstances probably cannot. It has been demonstrated by many groups and millions of people that the puritanical idea that sexual stimulation and nudity are in some way inherently related is completely false. The suggestively clothed body is far more sexually exciting than the nude body!
[p. 5]
The nude body must not bring shame to one's mind. Being able to accept one's body is a sign of good mental health and is necessary to continued development. If individuals must make any mental reservations at all about their bodies, they are not free. Also, nudity represents another form of ethical maturity. Accepting it allows one greater freedom of thought and action.
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FOOD, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SLEEP, DREAMS a. FOOD/SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
The food one eats and substance abuse both can have significant effects on an individual's health. Most persons agree on the obvious: Misuse of drugs and food can be unhealthy. Don't smoke or abuse drugs, or alcohol. Eat a healthy diet. Etc. However, when one goes beyond the foregoing platitudes we encounter tremendous disagreement and ignorance on the do's and don'ts of nutrition and drugs.
Opinions about what is a healthy diet vary tremendously. Most of the reasons depend on anecdotal reports, intuition, mysticism, beliefs. Some make an effort at using science. But the test groups are usually so small, or have no double-blind element, so the conclusions can at best be guidelines to use until better information is available. Yet no rational person can doubt that the food and substances we take into our body must be capable of profound effects. The fact that we have no coordinated program to better pin down these relationships should cause shame and concern in the mind of any politician, scientist, or health or governmental official having responsibilities in this area.
To examine ideas about healthy diets let's take as an example "vegans." These are persons who eat neither dairy products, nor any kind of meat -- neither beef, pork, chicken, fish, nor any other. Nor use leather products or materials tested for safety on animals. For me this is an inherently wrong approach. I think the goal of good health requires that one be as broad in their diet as circumstances and trustworthy data support. I think it is very likely that vegans are on the right track in terms of good health, a sustainable economy, and ecology. Nevertheless, by their rigidity I think they may have made the leap from wisdom to dogma.
When one steps across the threshold from reduced consumption to abstinence, an unassailable argument, or position is required. I have not -- up to this point -- heard an argument that moves one from moderation to abstinence other than a religious argument; i.e., it is morally wrong to eat these foods and therefore should not be done. I find this argument less than compelling.
Rather, I think, one's goal should aim toward being able to eat every food -- barring health, or other good reasons, either due to the nature of the food or the particular constitution of the consumer. Of course we normally tend to think of those foods provided to us when we were children as being best tasting and most desirable. Those foods encountered later tend to be considered weird, unappetizing, not-to-be-eaten at least upon initial encounters. However, we can learn to eat (if not be moved to rhapsody about) any food commonly consumed if we approach it with an open mind and moderation. Taking only a tiny bite that is increased slowly over time, is in my mind the secret to success. It seems to me this approach would be a natural behavior for an Enlightened Person.
[p. 6]
Extensive research needs to be conducted to determine the long-range effects of all foods and substances on different human bodies. This data must be individualized to achieve its greatest value. The foregoing should be tied into one's CTRES (Computer Tutor, Recorder, and Expert Systems) to achieve an individually tailored guide that is current and continuously up-dated.
b. SLEEP
Proper rest is also an important factor in health. The mystery of sleep, considering how much of each day an individual devotes to it, is probably percentage wise one of the most under-studied biological phenomena involving animals. For people sleep seems to be pretty much of an individual thing. Yet, there must be underlying truths about it which are applicable to everyone. How many hours of sleep does an individual need per day? How do persons determine if they are getting enough sleep, or better yet; can it be determined whether or not someone is getting more sleep than they need? Surely there is some optimum amount of sleep a person needs to satisfy very vital biological needs? What are these needs? Does more sleep than the optimum help in any way? Does it hinder? Is an individual healthier who spends more time sleeping? Only research will give the answers to the mysteries of rest and sleep. Research into the broader and deeper aspects of this problem is very necessary. And the foregoing information must vary greatly from person to person. Therefore it should also be personalized by one's Computer, Tutor, Recorder, and Expert Systems so as to apply as perfectly as possible to them.
Fortunately, in recent years sleep research has established a foundation of understanding. Dr. William Dement who set up the Stanford Sleep Clinic has been one of the founding members of this effort. His book THE PROMISE OF SLEEP [7] (discussed in more depth in Chapter 36 of VOLUME II) presents many important facts and ideas for any person desiring to live a healthy, happy life.
One of his central points is the need for more sleep research. The small cost of this research will provide enormous benefits in terms of better health and safety for individuals and society in general.
Here are Some of Dement's findings:
It is impossible to get too much sleep. (p. 434)
An individual has body cycles such that "clock-dependent alerting" will tend to keep the person awake at some times and help them sleep at others.
Medical doctors are by and large ignorant of much of the recent sleep research findings. As a direct result of this lack of understanding, sleep disorders cause numerous deaths each year directly, and indirectly (through accidents caused by lack of sleep) that could be avoided with proper treatment. (However, lack of sleep in healthy persons is an even bigger cause of accidents. It is responsible not only for countless auto accidents, and airline accidents, but also was the primary contributor to the Exxon Valdez, space shuttle Challenger, and Three Mile Island nuclear reactor accidents.)
[p. 7]
Almost everyone needs around eight hours of sleep per day. There are simple tests to determine if one is getting adequate sleep. When one gets insufficient sleep, a sleep debt is accumulated that must be paid off on an hour for an hour basis by sleeping more in the future if one is to function at their best. One can either catch up voluntarily, or during recovery from illness provoked by the condition.
"When we don't have enough sleep, we have a sour view of circumstances: We are more easily frustrated, less happy, short tempered, less vital...grumpier." (p. 272-273)
Although we still don't know why humans (and other animals) sleep, studies demonstrate that lack of sleep has significant effects. As Dement says (p. 260), "There is plenty of compelling evidence supporting the argument that sleep is the most important predictor of how long you will live, perhaps more important than whether you smoke, exercise, or have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels."
c. DREAMS
What about dreams? There are many cultures and numerous persons who believe that one must pay constant attention to their dreams if they are to live well. In some cultures an individual may kill another person if they dream that the other has wronged them, or plans to. Freud attempted to bring dreams into the realm of science in his book, THE INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS. William Dement (mentioned above) participated in the initial research with rapid eye movement sleep and their relationship to dreaming. Current studies lead some individuals to believe that dreams are not about anything. They interpret modern studies to support the idea that the dream state is part of a process to file and store experiences into long-term memory.
Based on the available information it is my belief that we do not yet understand what dreams are for and/or why we have them. Greater understanding of this universal phenomenon seems important. It seems to me that we currently have the tools to understand the purpose of dreams if they have any purpose. Gathering enough of the right data from sufficient individuals and properly analyzing it should make clear whether or not dreams relate to any aspect of brain functioning such as memory, or other elements of the individual's life.
Whether or not dreams do in fact have meanng buried in them my own experience leads me to counsel caution in attempting to interpret one's own dreams. Taking them as messages to use in making personal decisions can be dangerous. I believe that people can put themselves into self destructive, even life threatening situations by doing so. With proper support dream analysis may have value. However, in the absence of solidly based outside help, dream interpretation may be more harmful than astrology, Tarot card readings, and other similar processes that appeal to our magic/wishing propensity. In the foregoing an individual projects their inner processes onto an external screen which may seriously mislead them. This is particularly true for the person who is already mentally unbalanced.
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SELF-CONTROL/HYPNOSIS .
The preceding discussions deal with one phase of self-knowledge. Another phase is what has traditionally been called self-control. As discussed in VOLUME II, Chapter 27, "'Will Power' and Free Choice," [8] it is clear that self-control is a flawed concept. However, we do make choices and choice management is part of the procedure to make the best choices possible. (See the Fifth Way.) [9] Part of this process involves developing conscious control over many parts of one's being not normally so controlled. This requires as much self knowledge as possible and permits one to live a more integrated life. Using one's Computer, Tutor, Recorder, and Expert Systems as a feedback source would seem to be very helpful here. Most persons utilize only a small percentage of their abilities, and bring insufficient facts to bear on their important decisions. The foregoing is of great importance for anyone working to achieve a Sustainable Belief that their Life Has Meaning. Each person has tremendous potential. Everyone has the potential to develop into a fantastic, excited and exciting human being to the degree that they tap into their "wisdom" potential. A prime goal must be to help persons move to this level of self-development. Self-hypnosis is one technique for allowing one to more fully control one's being. Biofeedback is another. Meditation and yoga also provide time-tested guidelines as long as not over-used to thereby create a distortion of reality.
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