Do you think what you think you think ? Well, how could you not? Your beliefs might be right and they might be wrong, but surely you must at least know what they are?
Think again.
Being mistaken about our own true beliefs is common and self-delusion is sometimes necessary.
As TS Elliot wrote, 'Humankind cannot bear very much reality". However none of us would like to think we are serial reality dodgers. Indeed, although we commonly find ourselves hiding from the truth, we often also choose to confront it even if we know it will make life more difficult to us. Few things hurt more than realising you have been living a lie.
Ok.. 30 questions. You either agree or disagree to the statement.
Ready? go?
1. there are no objective moral standards; moral judgements are merely an expression of the values of a particular culture. 2. The right to life is so fundamental that financial considerations are irrelevant in any effort to save life. 3. There exists an all-powerful, loving and good God.
4. There are no objective truths about matter of fact; truth is always relative to particular cultures and individuals5. The environment should not be damaged unnecessarily in the pursuit of human ends. 6. So long as they do not harm others, individuals should be free to pursue their own ends. 7. Voluntary euthanasia should remain illegal.8. Would War II was a just war.9. Having made a choice, it is always possible that one might have chosen otherwise.10. Homosexuality is wrong because it is unnatural.11. It is not always right to judge individuals solely on their merits.12. Severe brain damage can rob a person of all consciousness and self hood.13. It is quite reasonable to believe in the existence of a thing without even the possibility of evidence for its existence.14. Judgements about works of art are purely matters of taste.15. The Government should not permit the sale of health treatments that have not been tested for efficacy and safety.16. Acts of genocide stand as a testament to man's ability to do great evil.17. Governments should be allowed to increase taxes sharply to save lives in the developing world.18. To allow an innocent child to suffer needlessly when one could easily prevent it is morally reprehensible.19. The Holocaust is a historical reality that took place more or less as the history books report.20. People should not travel by car if they can walk, cycle or take a train instead.21. The possession of drugs for personal use should be decriminalised.22. Individuals have sole rights over their own bodies.23. It is always wrong to take another person's life.24. The future is fixed; how one's life unfolds is a matter of destiny.25. Proper sanitation and medicines are generally good for a society.26. In certain circumstances it might be desiderable to discriminate positively in favour of a person as recompense for harms done to him/her in the past.27 On bodily death, a person continues to exists in a non-physical form28. Atheism is a faith just like any other, because it is not possible to prove the non-existence of God.29.Michelangelo is one of history's finest artists.30. Alternative and complementary medicines are as valuable as mainstream medicine.Compare your answers to the ones below. Only if both your answer match you look at number of the tension on the right.
Q1 agree & Q16 agree = tension 1
Q2 agree & Q17 disagree = tension 2
Q3 agree & Q18 agree = tension 3
Q4 agree & Q19 agree = tension 4
Q5 agree & Q20 disagree = tension 5
Q6 agree & Q21 disagree = tension 6
Q7 agree & Q22 agree = tension 7
Q8 agree & Q23 agree = tension 8
Q9 agree & Q24 agree = tension 9
Q10 agree & Q25 agree = tension 10
Q11 agree & Q26 disagree = tension 11
Q12 agree & Q27 agree = tension 12
Q13 disagree & Q28 agree = tension 13
Q14 agree & Q29 agree = tension 14
Q15 agree & Q30 agree = tension 15
