Philosophical Open Loops

Lately I’ve been thinking about how the concept of open loops (i.e. incomplete tasks and projects) connects with our models of reality. When we have holes and inconsistencies in our mental models, those models remain incomplete. It’s hard to act rationally when we lack a decent model of reality. How are you supposed to make intelligent decisions about your life when you’re not even clear about what kind of reality you’re in? I had to experience and reject various ways of modeling reality till I found an approach that felt more stable and reliable to me. My life flows better with my current mental model than it has in the past, and I think one good reason is that my current model closes the open loops that my previous models didn’t. Religious models, for instance, are riddled with open loops and inconsistencies. People keep trying to remedy those faulty models, but it’s to no avail because the flaws are systemic. So in the end these models just devolve into messy patchworks. They’ll always be inconsistent and confusing to people because they don’t make sense rationally. Religions teach models of reality that conflict with people’s everyday experiences, and people’s minds can’t fully accept those models. Since people don’t really accept the models, they can’t act in alignment with them either. Whoever buys into those models is sure to struggle with them. Open loops of any kind create distraction. Even when youâ€...
Source: Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Creating Reality Source Type: blogs