One of the most common misconceptions is that people mistake cause and effect as interchangeable. A cause is often seen as an effect, or an effect is mistaken for a cause. The most well-known phenomenon demonstrating this is the halo effect — a situation where specific characteristics of an object influence how we judge other traits. For example, you might like that person’s character because you like one of their qualities, not because you like the person as a whole. This misunderstanding is a common causal error. If you like someone, you tend to think everything about them is good; if you don’t like someone, you might overlook or dislike everything about them. It’s not that you dislike the person for one reason and like them for another—it’s simply how the human heart works. Gaining someone’s favor, therefore, can be an arduous and painful process. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Identifying my existence prompts the question: how can I prove it? We can define existence in biological terms, but first, we must approach it philosophically. This is achieved through the concept of a “statement.” The expressions “I am OO” or “you are OO” serve as philosophical assertions rather than scientific proof. If we dismiss the significance and authority of these statements, we encounter numerous problems and discomfort, as they lead me to doubt everyone I encounter. Statements are the fundamental components of a narrative. They delineate existence, with definitions articulated through sentences that create the story’s context. This entire framework is referred to as a “narrative.” - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”