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The Philosophy of Doublethink
Rick Weires
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Price: $16.95
Softcover | 176 pages | ISBN: 0-9754893-4-8 |
Logic Has Never Been So Illogical
The concept of “doublethink” has intrigued millions ever since its introduction in George
Orwell's 1984. Rick Weires simply asks the obvious question—can one really tell him- or herself a
lie and then believe it? Weires, after showing the answer to be yes, then carries the notion several
steps further, exposing the logical (rather illogical) consequences in a new book, The Philosophy
of Doublethink: Theory of Contradictory Values.
Taking cues from existentialists, cognitivists, and psychoanalysts, Weires views the
operations of minds and machines as similar in many ways—but also with major differences: Most
importantly are twisted human thought patterns. Since traditional, logically based explanations
cannot account for various lapses in human reasoning, Weires leans heavily on the doublethink
concept to create his new outlook.
In this fascinating text, you will:
- Discover many motives to doublethink
- Learn several forms of self-deception the mind uses
- Find a broader meaning of logic
- Understand empiricism’s strained relationship with the non-empirical
- Uncover the revolutionary “Clump Psychological Model”
About the Author
Rick Weires is a product safety engineer for a manufacturer of heavy equipment. He lives
in Iowa with his wife and three children.
Review
The concept of doublethink has intrigued people ever since its introduction in George Orwell's 1984. Rick Weires takes the debate one step further by focusing on this idea in a new book, The Philosophy of Doublethink: Theory of Contradictory Values. This fascinating text digs deep into the practice of telling yourself lies and believing them---the definition of doublethink.
Weires, who in addition to being a burgeoning philosopher is by profession an electrical engineer, identifies gaps in literally all philosophy---religion, hedonism, humanism, and free will. A self-admitted addict of existentialism, cognativisim, and psychoanalysis, Weires views the way the minds and machines function as highly similar. However, there is one major difference: The mind is highly inconsistent.
He writes: "If you are still as biased as I was, in noticing . . . mental flaws, you might hope to find logically based explanations to account for the lapses in human reasoning. But once you carefully compare functions between a near-perfect binary machine and an emotional organic being, you may throw in towel. Becoming frustrated because of numerous issues discussed throughout this book, I eventually abandoned the sensible approach to understanding thinking and started from scratch."
Finding only some help from the likes of Dostoyevsky, Nietzsche, and Freud, Weires took notice of the term "doublethink," coined by George Orwell. "In the beginning," writes Weires, "most will still value finding a consistent philosophical path, but the blatancy of the lie that is doublethink haunts you. The very notion clearly admits to lying, telling you it is going to lie, and indeed it does lie---a lie you will come to depend upon if you are to succeed on your journey" (the destination of the journey being the core of your being).
The author goes on to explain that, "Doublethink challenges convictions, as well as feeling. What you once found acceptable becomes a complete abomination. It explores areas where nothing has ever been seen before, finding new ideas, picking up the overlooked and ignored, then giving new meaning, eventually challenging everything that exists."
Divided into twelve chapters, this deftly written book will likely irritate, unnerve, and anger you---which is exactly the reaction the author hopes you'll have. He also delves into other controversial topics, sure to create heated debates: self-deception and its unavoidable confusion, life without a philosophy, an empirical look at how the mind doublethinks, and the rightful place of religion in an empirical world.
If you're obsessed with existential fears---looking for meaning in a meaningless world---The Philosophy of Doublethink will help you on the path to enlightenment. Don't miss it.
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