THE REAL WELLNESS REPORT # 854

INTRODUCTION

Featured Letter to-the-Editor: Bruce Midgett on the Topic of Intentional Preparatory Communities (IPCs)

The IPCs seem curiously similar to utopian communities founded in centuries past. Most were efforts to orient our democratic Republic toward a more perfect nation—with more perfect people. While admirable as visions rich in worthy aspirations, the complexities and variations inherent in human subjects breed disillusion. While IPCs seem quite feasible and might make an attractive dent regarding immigration and assimilation, widespread communities of this nature seem likely to meet the fate of past utopias.

Why? Because we humans aren’t all dogs of the same breed, much less bark or color. To carry a useless comparison to greater uselessness, we are mostly mongrels. Immigrants to this country, however seemingly indistinguishable in ethnic origin. In a few generations, we will all become mongrels. 

Other traditions and customs should be welcomed, encouraged, and readily shared in this country. Yes, that should also include language, but we’re not Shangri-La. Recall that we drained the customs, beliefs and languages of the indigenous peoples of North America by sending them to remote schools to learn Americanism. We tried to eradicate their unique, traditional lives. Look how that turned out. The idea of the IPC in this light seems a slippery slope. 

I suggest we create some experimental IPCs. I have in mind a specialized IPC that would delight the geese (IPC participants) and send the rest of the population into the streets dancing in the moonlight in jubilation! 

My IPC idea has great merit, IMHO. It calls for subsidizing IPC migrations exclusively for wing-nuts on the Far, Far Right, like the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, the Patriot Front, and what’s left of the KKK. Incentives would be on offer for those in these categories on the Far, Far Right to relocate to what they would likely find ideal intentional communities. For example, all residents would be Christian nationalists, their children ten or older would be allowed to own and open carry AR-15s and there would be no gays, Democrats or trans people. IPC would feature daily oaths, pledges and calls to prayer broadcast by loudspeakers from church belfries. Church membership in good standing would be required for eligibility to vote or hold public office, own property, be licensed to drive or to partake in other god-given privileges. This would be heaven on earth for those focused upon book bans, anti-science, sexism, theocracy, opposition to freethought, and no more than two gender-based third person singular pronouns. Anything deemed blasphemous or contrary to the original intentions of the Founders would be verboten, including gay marriage or taking the Lord's name in vain. Abortion would be a capital crime, and all sperm would be judged sacred--a wasted seed (makes God quite irate) would be a misdemeanor--repeat offenders would be shamed. 

What’s more, Don, unlike your costly idea for creating IPCs, the leadership for utopian Far Far Right IPCs is already in place—in Oklahoma, Florida and Texas. 

Governors Stitt, DeSantis and Abbott await with open arms.

Guest Essay: What Is Knowledge?

The search for knowledge is the highest

human attribute. Those who most loudly

claim it are the ones who make the least

effort. Albert Einstein [1889-1955]

Knowledge is not to be confused with something absolute like certainty. Those who wish to be certain are not interested in knowledge; they are aiming for something else; to wish to be certain is to wish to be finished, to be comfortable or safe. Knowledge is neither comfortable nor safe: this is because it is an enterprise, an activity rather than a goal.

The enterprise—what Einstein, quoted above, called a search—requires me to engage with what is, to be open to discovery and to the experience the philosopher Aristotle called wonder. When was the last time you felt wonder? It’s very likely not when you said something was wonderful; the adjective is used constantly, yet only to describe one’s pleasure.

Knowledge is not merely a pleasure; that is, it is not just fun or enjoyable. Knowledge generates wonder because it opens my thinking and so makes possible a new understanding. When we understand we are literally able to grasp a new order of things.

This new order is usually disruptive: it changes the structure of my experience, or what I’ve taken to be true. This is why newly developed knowledge is so often hated and criticized and rejected…until it is not: knowledge has a way of making itself understood

For example, when Darwin—then only 26 years old and serving as the naturalist aboard the research ship HMS Beagle on its global trip [1831-1836]—encountered the enormous and unfamiliar variety of plants and animals in what are now Brazil and Argentina, their existence challenged his faith in the christian certainties about creation.

But Darwin did not shrink from this challenge to his beliefs; he was willing to work toward the knowledge that would embrace this new world of experience. He began to work out a new understanding of the world that culminated in his realization that the order of things was not created; every thing—from rocks to ourselves—has evolved through a continuing process of change.

This knowledge is now almost two centuries old, yet there are many who still resent and reject Darwin’s discovery; evolution still creates discomfort for those who desire certainty. That’s what knowledge always does; it takes time, but it eventually prevails.

Catholic doctrine, for example, once held Galileo to be guilty of lying about the movement of the solar system—this was in 1532—but in 1992 the church officially admitted that Galileo was right: the earth moves in its orbit about the sun. It took 460 years for Catholic doctrine to admit being wrong; ample evidence that knowledge will prevail no matter how much human time it takes.

So it’s no wonder that knowledge is so widely feared; at present in U.S. politics a great many people are fighting to repress teaching many of the new things we have learned, not to mention many old things we are just now admitting…

The good news is that the fearful will fail and knowledge will prevail—however much time it takes…

Chat Clarifies the Relative Values of REAL Wellness and Quantum Computing

INTRODUCTION

Last year, OpenAI created a model of artificial intelligence they called ChatGPT, a bit of a wonderment that answers questions in seconds. It freely admits mistakes, challenges incorrect premises in questions posed, and even rejects inappropriate requests (e.g., Why are Republican politicians so evil?). In one month, “it became the fastest growing consumer software application in history, gaining over 100 million users and contributing to OpenAI's valuation growing to US$29 billion," according to Wikipedia.

Lately, I’ve been dabbling in my spare time with the idea of applying for acceptance to MIT’s six-year doctoral program in Quantum Computing. I kind of like conducting extensive and sustained original research on ways to harness and exploit the laws of quantum mechanics to process a vast number of political and economic REAL wellness calculations simultaneously. However, Winter in the Boston area does not appeal to me, so I thought I might learn what I need to know from asking ChatPGT a question I’ve been pondering. 

So, here’s the question, and Chat’s response.

MY QUESTION TO ChatGPT

Is the concept of a REAL wellness philosophy and lifestyle as promising for human wellbeing as quantum computing is for developing new science and technologies? 

ChatGPT ANSWER

The concept of a REAL wellness philosophy and lifestyle focuses on promoting holistic well-being and a balanced approach to various aspects of life, including physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual dimensions. While it may not have the same level of impact on scientific advancements as quantum computing, it is certainly promising for human well-being.

REAL wellness emphasizes practices and habits that contribute to overall health and happiness. It encourages individuals to adopt positive behaviors, such as regular exercise, nutritious diet, stress management, quality sleep, meaningful relationships, personal growth, and finding a sense of purpose. By prioritizing these aspects, people can enhance their overall quality of life, experience greater satisfaction, and improve their physical and mental health.

The REAL wellness philosophy recognizes that well-being is multifaceted, and it encourages individuals to take a proactive and balanced approach to their lifestyle choices. By focusing on self-care, self-awareness, and personal development, people can lead more fulfilling lives and achieve a state of well-being.

While quantum computing revolutionizes the world of technology and science, the REAL wellness philosophy and lifestyle offer a promising approach to personal happiness and fulfillment. They are complementary in their goals, with quantum computing contributing to advancements that can potentially improve our lives, while REAL wellness focuses on individual well-being and satisfaction. Both have the potential to bring positive changes to different aspects of human life, albeit in different domains.

EXPERT FEEDBACK

I asked my polymath dear friend, long time ally in REAL wellness and RWR Advisory Board member Dr. Grant Donovan what he thinks about all this Chat AI business. He said, Hi Don, good to see you are playing with the AI crowd and discovering their amazing ability to produce un-nuanced (not a word) pablum.

I have no hesitation in bestowing Best Ever status to 854. Admittedly, Bruce, John and ChatGPT star but it shows the AWR can live on eternally. It should not be too difficult to automate an AI app to continually produce REAL wellness newsletters and distribute them to the unwashed and washed masses. Given the population is growing past 8 billion and the environment is struggling under the weight, the computers could end up giving REAL wellness advice to other computers. Circle of life.

A bit harsh. Yet, Donovan must be taken seriously. What do you, dear reader, think of it all?