Shapes

If this proposition inside the circle is true, then it is false. If it is false, then it is true.






If the proposition inside the box is true, then it is false. If it is false, then it is true.

If the proposition inside the box is true, then it is false. If it is false, then it is false.

Lesson: the truth depends not on what others claim is the truth, but on whether we adjust our minds to the shape of the truth.

Independence?

It is interesting to note how the word 'independence' is defined. For instance, www.dictionary.com defines the word as "freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others".

However, to my mind, the notion of independence does not merely convey the idea of being 'finally free to stand on one's two feet'. It unjustifiably ignores the key question "Free from what?" There is a common ground of understanding that when we use the word 'independence', we in fact mean one is being freed from something negative. To put it in another way, there must have been some sort of improvement, at least from the point of view of he who uses the word to convey his message.

For example, school kids from where I come from are often heard to scream the word 'independence!!!' (albeit in their native language) in ecstasy at the end of the examination period. To their mind, their freedom from the perceived 'negativity' of the examinations has improved their lives. Another example would be a lame man who finally, after grueling months of medical treatment, is able to walk without his walking aid. He would perhaps, at the end of his ordeal, be heard to say that "It was worth the wait; I can finally walk independently". Or perhaps picture a young man who for all his life was a rebel. When he finally reaches the age of majority and leaves his family, he might be heard to say "Oh, what joy it is to be living an independent life!"

It is, of course, an oddity - indeed, nonsensical - to speak of being 'free' or of 'gaining independence' from a priorly positive or better situation. Take for instance the situation in Iraq. A reasonable person free from bias might have his reservations if you put it to him that Iraq gained its independence when the foreign forces invaded the country. Think also about the notion of 'independence' and its suitability to describe a man deserted alone in an uninhabited island. We would indeed describe its usage as pure nonsense.

There are two possible sources of the nonsensical usage of the word 'independence'. The first is the poor command of one's language, where the utterer is ignorant of what the word means and uses it in the wrong context. That, of course, is rectifiable. One only needs to secure his command of English to make sense. The second of the possible sources is the more worrying of the two. It is where the utterer is himself deluded - that is, where, by some mysterious dysfunctioning of his mind, sees the degradation from the priorly positive state as the opposite: that is, he sees it as a progressive improvement from a priorly negative state. This is worrying because, more often than not, this delusion is made possible by his conscious choice and not by merely being negligent as to the circumstances involved. In other words, he is often 'brainwashed' into so thinking and consequently misusing that word.

Now, to be fair, one needs to stand in a pair of unbiased shoes to be able to determine if another is being 'nonsensical' or not. Assuming you are one of those unbiased ones, can you think of some situations where others have used the word 'independence' nonsensically?

Mere puff

Dear readers,

1. I have given my blog a very mild makeover. You are most welcome to play 'spot the difference'. (thanks Debbie for taking that display pic of me:) )

2. Lately I have been having an itch to author a book. This itch is, surprisingly, getting severe. Now, before you write me off as a wannabe or a 'mere puff'¹, allow me to explain that this has much to do with my interest in becoming an academic ("What, not a lawyer?!" you may ask. Let's leave that for another day.), which is quite synonymous with lecturing, teaching and, well, writing books. This brings me to my third point:

3. If you could author a book, what topic would you choose? (hopefully we'll see some comments!)

¹ [legal] Mere advertising nonsense; no legal value.

'May or may not'

Dictionary-of-useless-phrases.com Unabridged - Cite This Source
may or may not ¹
Pronunciation Key /meɪ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation /meɪ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation

–present singular 1st person may or may not, 2nd may or may not or (Archaic) mayest or mayest not, 3rd may or may not; present plural may or may not; past might or might not.

1. (used to express the possibility): It may or may not rain.
2. (used to express opportunity or permission): You may or may not enter.
3. (used to express contingency, esp. in clauses indicating condition, concession, purpose, result, etc.): I may or may not be wrong but I think you would be wise to go. Times may or may not change but human nature stays the same.
4. (used to express wish or prayer):May you or may you not live to an old age.

Also see: I DON'T KNOW¹.

[ Etymology: 'may' - Old English mæg; akin to Old High German mag. 'or may not' - Modern English I actually don't bloody well know.]