How can something be so right AND so wrong?

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10 November 2021

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Complexity vs simplicity | Cycles | Dualism-Trialism | Focus vs perspective | Love Knowledge Power | Monism | Occam’s razor | Priorities and choices | Waves | Why

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We typically believe in simple perspectives: it’s either day or night rather than acknowledging dawn or twilight. Things are either black or white rather than the many shades of grey in between. People are either right or wrong rather than considering subjective truths. Many – if not most – things are dualistic in our lives (eg, us/them, yes/no). If so, how can something be/feel so right and so wrong at the same time?

There are other perspectives in life besides dualism, like monism and trialism. Together they constitute a (repeating?) cycle of 3 waves. My concept of Love, Knowledge & Power is an example of trialism. Knowledge = Power is an example of dualism. In monism, both Knowledge and Love are subordinated to Power.

I suppose that trialism, and thus also Love, are about and/and rather than either/or. Hence, something can indeed be so right and so wrong at the same time.

Thinking along the lines of trialism (eg, in solutions as well as in problems) seems to be the exception. Why? Perhaps, thinking in either/or is just more simple and effective.

Complex thinking requires a comprehensive and/and approach. In many cases, simplicity rules (eg, Occam’s razor). Also see this recent Aeon essay: Why simplicity is so unreasonably effective at scientific explanation.

Nevertheless, trialism is also simple: it only requires a mindset that both (eg, opinions, perspectives, views) may be right rather than only one. You’re not obliged to make a choice. Often, people do make a choice given their (subjective) priorities. Also see my blogs on priorities & choices.

Usually, these opinions, perspectives, and/or views are at the opposite of any scale. In my blogs, I refer to this phenomenon as the micro focus versus the macro focus (of a certain perspective). Usually, both the micro and the macro focus of any perspective are equally valid. However, the majority focus will rule.

I’m not sure if I’m right or wrong this time. It feels that “something” is right and wrong at the same time. In order to make my life less complicated, I have/had to make a simple choice. I reserve the right to be wrong.