Identity vs Character

We don't know everything. The unfortunate reality constantly forces us to judge and act on incomplete information. We form opinions and worldviews with neither a complete sweeping general picture nor an exact conception of the details of our circumstances. So then what happens when new information is brought to our attention? There are two options.

We can use previous conclusions to reject new premises. This is irrational and amounts to a denial of reality. It is a deception of our own psyche to believing that reality is something other than what it is. This option may sound ridiculous when it is explained in these terms, the easy option for a dull mind.

We all have a inclination to create our own identity - a self-image - as a conglomeration of the characteristics of many external entities. It's as though we are programmed with a need to know where we are and where we are going. Defining ourselves is such a laborious, taxing, and time-consuming experience that we do not wish to repeat it. Some may feel that were they to redefine themselves they would appear wishy washy. Or they might be intimidated by not having a clearly outlined destination in the process and they might worry they'd get lost in the middle, like a computer operating system attempting to reprogram itself.

The real problem is when people identify themselves with transient entities, things that change. Examples might include people that think of themselves as the stylish one, the unemployed one, or the leprous one. Character is when one forms his identity based on eternal and unchanging principles: of a man with character it might be said "he is good, kind, meek, courageous, passionate about truth."

Possession of character is predicated on an absolute and unequivocal embrace of reality, eternity, truth (all one and the same). In order to function an intelligent agent must draw conclusions based on incomplete premises (knowledge of reality). But as more knowledge is brought to light it is embraced as well as all previously held knowledge; it is welcomed as a premise and any contingent conclusions are reconsidered.

My fellow author in this blog was once told, "you don't always have to be right" to which he had the ready rejoinder, "why would I ever want to be wrong?" This is a powerful expression of character well-founded in correct philosophical premises. This is the only attitude any truly free man will have. The free man maintains his freedom by giving no allegiance to any political party, ideology, position or principle except truth. As new truth is learned all opinions, prejudices, worldviews and paradigms are modified as necessary into consistency with this truth. And the truth shall make you free.