I'm disappointed that nobody played my "imagination game" above, especially because a clever person could easily refute it.
I'll do all the work for you. *Sigh.*
It's long, read it, I promise it makes sense.
Ok, if that's what you believe, then play along with me.
So lets say there are other people. They exist in your external reality. Let's say they really exist out there, play along if you don't think they do. They also exist in your internal reality, and you prefer to work with them in that sphere.
Ok. Now lets say these other people do things and go about their business. Well to do those things they can't just do whatever they want by thinking it, they have to navigate certain limitations and barriers. To navigate those limitations, they have to form a consistent understanding of what is "out there." If there understanding is incorrect or distorted, they won't be able to do things as well, or at all.
This is how a lot of people think, you say you don't think like this but pretend if you did. Let's get a little more involved in this imagination game.
So these people approach you and they want to navigate limitations. You tell them whatever is convenient to tell them at the moment - let's say it's something that you know isn't true but you doublethink into believing it is true. Does this ultimately help them?
Let's say you do the same thing for yourself: you tell yourself what most is convenient with doublethink. Does this ultimately help you?
* What you're supposed to say is:
"Based on these assumptions on the nature of reality, leading people down false paths, many times, doesn't help them (although sometimes doing so leads to productive learning, but I digress). It also hurts you, because you cannot effectively make choices. It may be uncomfortable to accept some types of truth, but learning to deal with that discomfort ultimately makes you a better decision maker. "
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* But then, if you want to show your viewpoint you say:
However, if you change the nature of reality, the use of doublethink is beneficial. Assume that only the mind exists. In that case, you'll likely see the world as an attempt to preserve your psyche. In that case, you use doublethink to avoid discomfort. Why go through discomfort when the external world isn't that important anyway?
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* If you were truly clever, you'd turn my whole argument on it's head by reversing the imagination game. Refer back to the original to note the changes. Like this:
(placed in quote box for ease of use)
If you believe that the outside world exists, then play along with me.
So lets say that you are the mind. You only exist in your internal reality. Let's say those "other people" out there either also exist in their minds, or are just part of your mind, play along if you don't think that's true. They exist in your internal reality, and you prefer to work with them in that sphere.
Ok. Now lets say you experience things in your mind. Well you can't just experience whatever you want, you have to navigate certain mental limitations and barriers. If you can't effectively change the way you see things, then you'll frequently be experiencing discomfort.
Let's get a little more involved in this imagination game.
Some people approach you and they want to navigate limitations. You tell them whatever is convenient to tell them at the moment - let's say it's something that you know isn't true but you doublethink into believing it is true. Does this ultimately help YOU (they are just in your head, hence you)?
Let's say you do the same thing for yourself (redundant, in this case): you tell yourself what most is convenient with doublethink. Does this ultimately help you?
* What I'd say here would be:
"Based on these assumptions on the nature of reality, leading people down false paths, as long as it eliminates discomfort, helps you, because the path is irrelevant. It also helps you more directly. It may be uncomfortable to accept some types of truth, but learning to deal with that discomfort by making it disappear ultimately makes you more comfortable."
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* The most clever person would find a way to eliminate this dichotomy entirely.
Tl, dr:
What it comes down to is this: by questioning the assumptions in play, both philosophies are easily picked apart.