Happy New Year!
I've become aware again on how my thoughts, perceptions, beliefs, and abilities to be objective and fact based can be an illusion may be bolstering my confidence and self esteem. On the other hand, by becoming aware again of my limitation, errors in thinking, and even prejudices does help me in becoming more grounded. My awareness is bolstered by exposing myself to criticism, challenges to my statements in conversations, and reading both scientific, journalistic opinions, poetry, and fiction. I'll try in this blog to center on this theme though now the writing changes.
My wife was prescribed imiquamod for precancerous skin condition on her face. She was told by her dermatologist to apply the ointment twice per day for two weeks then wait two weeks and reapply for another two weeks. After six days she developed red painful sores on her face and on her lip and mouth. She stopped the ointment and then tried to call the doctor. Her pain symptoms were intense and unrelenting. She looked very distressed. She could not eat much since her mouth was so sore. Christmas holiday caused a communication problem in getting anyone at the doctor's office. The day after Christmas she sent him a well written summary of her condition with timelines and symptoms to his communication portal. We both tried to contact him but he was not active in any of the doctors telephone exchanges. Finally the following day his office staff called her back. Tearful and trembling she described her distress asking to talk with him but later the staff member called back but no doctor call. So far no response from the doctor. Fortunately, by stopping this treatment over the past few days her facial wounds have improved and her pain is much less. I had gone to the pharmacy and did get her some benzacaine ointment which did relieve her sore mouth symptoms. My research on line concerning his recommended treatment revealed to me that his instruction for twice per day application was incorrect with recommendation for once per day for five days a week or less. I had an appointment with my dermatologist who told me that she does not use this compound for my wife's condition. I then found an article comparing the efficacy of use of her prescribed medication versus 5-flurouracil. His prescribed treatment was much less efficacious with the compound applied to the face three times per week. I asked my dermatologist how her patients reach her after hours or on a holiday. She and her backup partners list their cell numbers and expect emergency calls.
What can we rely on to base our opinions about this or any other subject. I just completed reading a very interesting book The Constitution of Knowledge A Defense of Truth by Jonathan Rauch. I came across this book after reading an article by Jonathan Haidt Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid ( https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/). Jonathan Rauch took me on a historical survey to the making of the U.S.A. constitution showing the genius of James Madison and others who recognized that democracy must have its checks and balances so that mob rules, autocrat and monarch outcomes, chaos and misinformation don't descend on us as they have throughout history. He begins with Socrates and Theatetus, Socrates fictionalized younger acolyte, walking and discussion the questions surrounding how we know anything. Scepticism and scientific curiosity are imbedded in their dialogue. Rauch presents the philosophical history surrounding government, freedom, knowledge, and the human frailties that lead us down rabbit holes of fantasy often manipulated by others interested in power or interested in nihilism and chaos. He takes you on the tour of our cognitive biases and errors in thinking. He reviews the theories concerning hypothesized evolutionary reasoning that wires us to conform to group norms, follow leaders who may subjugated us, and accept and even believe fantasies and conspiracy theories as facts. He highlights the Hobbesian viewpoint that the masses of people require an autocrat or monarch to rule over them or else chaos will continue (but of course Thomas Hobbes does not give an answer on how to control a cruel destructive monarch). He gives a survey on our scientific revolution and the principles that have slowly evolved to encourage criticism, debate, controversy, and alternative hypothesis offerings while encouraging truth, honesty, and reporting of the data for analysis of outsiders. In short, a healthier scientific community with principles encouraging honest and healthy exchanges in the pursuit of truth. He then surveys the practice of law and come to the same conclusion that there has been a progressive growth in healthier promulgation of laws and the interpretation of these laws as it applies to different situations. Ethical standards again are being developed as in science. He takes on journalism also pointing out that verification of sources through independent investigations, digging for truth and facts rather than accepting opinions and authority figure pronouncements, fact checking and reporting errors that have been published are part of these developments. As I read his book the dark side of our culture wars and political problems were discussed with again new insight to me. He points out that various groups including Russia have experimented with misinformation over our internet and then media outlets so that just a few perpetrators could sow so much confusions and misinformation quickly. He gives many examples of trolls somewhat effectively bamboozled so many. He points out that various groups were more interested in sowing confusion and discouragement hoping to cause many to just give up attempting to find the truth or advocate for their own causes. He describes a group of these nihilists as taking over the Republican Party! Canceling has become a big problem. Innocent texts, tweets, email become interpreted by the cancel group who then hound the author, attempting to get them fired, threaten them online, and promoted violence and rejection. He gives examples of university higher education problems with free speech highlighting the dilemma of faculty afraid to confront the small conservative groups who want to cancel free speech. I did not know that cry baby now refers to students and others who complain that their feeling are hurt therefore they have been damaged and require protection because of free speech suppression and discrimination. But then he points out that new organizations of people have now been an influence in science, journalism, law, and the University to shore up the Constitution of Knowledge! He gives a nod to Wikepedia as an online resource that manages to improve and network with like minded people. Aspects of this constitution include the following. We are all fallible. In the pursuit of truth people are interchangable (no because I say it is so). There is an objective reality to investigate and understand. In the pursuit of truth expect institutional disconfirmation (you need to show with data and facts your point of view). You need to be accountable for your mistakes and open to scrutiny for your data (epistemic conscience). There is a pluralism of approaches to reach the truth not just one way. In stating your point of view be civil. Professional training, continuing education, expertise achievements do count. Being part of a network or institution is important. When interacting with others don't bullshit. He describes how the fact checking resources have improved and grown greatly. He give examples of organizations now assisting the universities stop the canceling minorities influences appropriately and encouraging dialogue and healthy debate. Well, enough you get the idea. I do recommend this book and Haidt's article.
My wife's dermatologist does list on his web site how his practice values communication, expertise, and feedback. Her experience has been the opposite. My brief investigations have shown some slackness in giving precise instructions beyond twice per day for two weeks application which I now question since article I've read give much much less frequency and different timeline. Fortunately, she is much improved no thanks to him. If she wanted to pursue a complaint the State of Hawaii does have a portal to process patient complaints. She probably will send him a very well worded note outlining her issues and disappointments.
Since my first paragraph highlights my limitations now I can also describe that they are but part of my nature since I feel part of the larger community which makes up this Constitution of Knowledge.
The other day, a friend asked me about Rudyard Kipling's poem "If". A poem to his son. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If%E2%80%94
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And—which is more—you'll be a Man, my son!
My wife's photograph of the Mokulua islands on New Years Day!
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