Schrödinger’s World

Schrödinger’s World

So, Schrödinger’s theory basically says that if you put a cat in a box (good luck getting it out again), some poisoned food in the box, and close the lid, then the cat is both alive and dead until you reopen the box and confirm its fate.

I feel as if this is a little bit like what the world has become. We can no longer tell what is true and right based solely on the information given to us by, what is now most people’s main source, the internet. You will find, on any given subject, passionate people arguing for both sides. Whether out of wilful ignorance on indeed a quest to provide misinformation, no one can be sure any more. The box has been so shut that we may never get it open but for our own experience.

Let us look at one of the most prominent examples. I have just been on a live stream of the falcon rocket resupplying the ISS. The main topic of discussion? Is this a hoax – because the earth is round in the “live” video from the ISS. And here is the problem, both sides actively mocking the other, both sure they are in the right, both pointing to sites on the internet as proof.

This would be fine if this were the only issue. But it’s not. Vaccines, good or bad. Trump, Idiot or Saviour. God, many, one or none. And then which one. I have my views on this one as you will know if you have read my previous posts.

The point, regardless of which side of what argument that you fall on, is that our information is flawed. We see now as through a glass, darkly. We try to see through the lid of the box but seem to be shouted out by the others in the room. The problem seems to be that no one seems to be willing to open the box. They would rather argue that the cat is already alive or dead based on their views.

It seems to have now reached the point that people have now lost interest in the cat, in the issue, choosing rather to focus on the argument. Trying to disprove the other side has become the main attraction. People would rather be seen to be fowling the group by their friends, be they online or in the real world.

As we all know, humans are pack animals, no, wait – it’s the other thing. Why then do we go with this herd mentality? It may even go so far as to be a hive mentality in some cases with a single leader or banner to fall under. For example, if you only get your news from Fox, or from CNN. If you only listen to podcasts from the health system, a government conspiracy channel, or if you only read the Mirror, you will have vastly different information from those that do not.

In the end it is down, ironically, to the individual. One must seek to open the box, to assess for themselves if the cat is alive or dead. To test if the information they are receiving is true and correct.

Where this starts to become truly interesting is between the field of sexuality and medical science.

Imagine if you will, that a transgender male comes to a hospital. He has a problem though, he is suffering from endometriosis. However, he insists that he be treated as a man, as, in many countries, is his right. What, then, should the doctors do?

The information that we get and act upon is extremely important. The information that we base further assumptions on even more so. What we treat as true should be of the highest regard, meaning our teachers bear a massive burden. And we ourselves more so in choosing what we treat as truth.

So how does one choose? How do you sift what is accurate from what is fools gold, the wheat from the chaff as it were?

I don’t often give actual guidance in these posts, but in this case I make an exception. Read. Listen and watch. Read widely, and on a number of subjects. Listen to all sides of the argument before making up your mind; often there are more than two. Listen to the old, listen to those who have done the thing before. And finally, think. Try to reason through everything, try to find the logic, find the best way.

Try to open the box.