Peanuts Aren’t Really Peanuts –
"A" Doesn’t Equal "A"
By Robert A. Meyer
I am holding a can of peanuts in my hand and reading the label.
The front of the can says it contains Roasted Peanuts. I turn
the can around and read the ingredients. The main ingredient is
Peanuts. I believe we can assume that this is a can of peanuts.
But wait a minute, there is another category that says Allergy
Information: And guess what it says. Contains Peanuts. Is this
ridiculous or what?
I’m sure there are three reasons for the redundancy:
1. We are a nation that is hooked on excessive government
regulations.
2. We are a sue-happy nation.
3. Lawyers create the laws and regulations. Who benefits from
the above two reasons?—need I say more.
Gee, I wonder why the American people put up with this sorry
state of affairs?
Is Logic Logical?
Logical reasoning is in short supply. Just listen to the
candidates running for political office. You have to assume that
logic and reason have taken a permanent vacation.
Putting Quantum Physics and certain metaphysical principles
aside— the laws of Newtonian Mechanics are applicable to most
ordinary decisions in everyday life. A=A. This is irrefutable.
If you purchased a bag of apples at your local grocery store,
arrived home and discovered that your bag of apples were oranges
you would exist in a state of uncertainty—your life would be
chaotic. Or if you were driving, came to an intersection with a
stop light and green wasn’t really green—in fact green is
often red—you probably wouldn’t reach your destination.
You prepare your morning pot of coffee—pour a cup—take a sip
and swallow. Suddenly you are gagging, choking and coughing.
Your cup of coffee is actually a cup of bleach. Your everyday
existence would obviously be in question. Long-term survival
would be almost impossible.
Modern Philosophy
I discovered that some of the philosophy courses in a number of
modern universities teach that everything is indeterminate. A
doesn’t necessarily equal A. A might be B or possibly C. In
fact it might not exist at all. "A" is an illusion.
I’m sure you are comforted by the fact that the thick, juicy
steak you're cooking on the grill might not be steak at all. You
just think it is steak. It might be something else—possibly an
old shoe. Even worse, you are suffering under an illusion that
you are actually cooking something. There is neither a grill nor
anything cooking on it.
Conclusion
It is obvious why a can of peanuts has to be labeled peanuts—has
to list the main ingredients as peanuts—and must warn you that
this can of peanuts contains peanuts. If A doesn’t equal A, it
is evident that listing the main ingredient in a can of peanuts
as peanuts means it might not be peanuts. So to make sure that
the consumer knows this is a can of peanuts there has to be an
additional warning that states this can of peanuts contains
peanuts.
I am confused about one thing though. If A doesn’t equal A,
how can we be sure the allergy warning is actually correct—when
it states that this can of peanuts which has as its main
ingredient peanuts, contains peanuts? Maybe it actually contains
dried prunes, or apricots, possibly lizard tails, toenail
clippings, worms------------.
Isn’t modern philosophy wonderful? It must be. Our candidates
for office take advantage of it when they are making promises.
The voters seem to believe in it. And of course, our political
institutions are run on its “tenets.”
Still—why do the American people put up with it? Maybe they
believe that "A" is anything they want it to be. You
know this is enlightening. You can have your cake and eat it
too. That is, of course, if it is cake we are eating.
At The Ballgame
"Take me out to the ballgame. Take me out to the crowd. Buy
me some peanuts and crackerjacks." What an afternoon to
watch a ballgame! There's the vendor. Peanuts, peanuts, get your
peanuts. Hey, throw me a bag of those peanuts. I can't wait to
open the bag up and start crunching on em'. Wait a minute. Hey,
you come back. These aren't peanuts. These are nails. What's
going on here? I want some peanuts.
About the Author: Robert A. Meyer has been investigating and
studying economics, philosophy, psychology and metaphysics for
30 years. He realizes there are basic principles of Human Action
that will help you become successful. His knowledge that life is
to be lived on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level
allowed him to discover "The Libertarian Way." He
experiences its many pleasures and ecstasies on a daily basis. http://libertarianway.com/
Source: www.isnare.com
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