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Do you need or do you have a frame of reference?

Lark

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Do you need or do you have a frame of reference?

I've read about how religion and ideology can be typified as frames of reference, they provide an object of devotion, ie God, community, leaders, homeland, and a code of ethics as a guideline to behaviour and choices.

By that measure or description do you think you have a frame of reference? Or do you think you need one?
 

Coriolis

Si vis pacem, para bellum
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The earth is the closest thing I have to an external frame of reference. I measure time with respect to its seasons, speed with respect to its motion, and distances with respect to its surface. To some extent, I measure good by what cares for the earth and keeps it healthy, functional and beautiful for all who depend on it.
 
G

garbage

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I prefer to take in a whole boatload of frames of references, then strive to come up with a unified, all-encompassing whole. I'm not devoted to any of them; it'd be a lie to say that I'm not affected by societal expectations, but I do try to dig into what it's really about, which means continually chewing and spitting out different worldviews.

I think that the scientific method is the best method that we have to determine the fundamental truths of our world, though it's not without its limitations. One place where it's not so limited, however, is course-correction in the face of the discovery of new evidence or of new ways of looking at evidence--which is important as the zeitgeist changes. I may or may not, therefore, be said to use it as a frame of reference.

One thing I'm interested in, for example, is how our innate neurology has driven our moral sentiments, which we have then codified into standards and laws that have certain cultural and specific differences but many general aspects in common. These core 'truths' are as close to an external moral frame of reference that I can come up with, and they're very nebulous; so it's a lifelong search, but an important one.
 

rhinosaur

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The earth is the closest thing I have to an external frame of reference. I measure time with respect to its seasons, speed with respect to its motion, and distances with respect to its surface.

Yep, that.

Regarding behavior and choices, the general perception of what is considered "normal," as defined by the people that I like, is my external reference.
 

KDude

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Whatever is fun, doesn't kill me, and doesn't attract too much attention. I'm a little sketchy on the second one, especially with health. Not all things that kill you are immediate. And it's hard juggling 1 and 3 sometimes.
 

Space Socks

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I prefer to take in a whole boatload of frames of references, then strive to come up with a unified, all-encompassing whole. I'm not devoted to any of them; it'd be a lie to say that I'm not affected by societal expectations, but I do try to dig into what it's really about, which means continually chewing and spitting out different worldviews.

I think that the scientific method is the best method that we have to determine the fundamental truths of our world, though it's not without its limitations. One place where it's not so limited, however, is course-correction in the face of the discovery of new evidence or of new ways of looking at evidence--which is important as the zeitgeist changes. I may or may not, therefore, be said to use it as a frame of reference.

One thing I'm interested in, for example, is how our innate neurology has driven our moral sentiments, which we have then codified into standards and laws that have certain cultural and specific differences but many general aspects in common. These core 'truths' are as close to an external moral frame of reference that I can come up with, and they're very nebulous; so it's a lifelong search, but an important one.

I agree. We have the forms of morality or standard of truths that is relative to some given culture, but the universal aspects become absolutes when these differences are acknowledged to exist. Every culture has some level of ethnocentric view, and I think as individuals we defend and live by our own truths and laws in order to readily be able to adopt a new(better) one. Of course, this isn't always the case, but I'd like to think so.
 

AphroditeGoneAwry

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I agree. We have the forms of morality or standard of truths that is relative to some given culture, but the universal aspects become absolutes when these differences are acknowledged to exist. Every culture has some level of ethnocentric view, and I think as individuals we defend and live by our own truths and laws in order to readily be able to adopt a new(better) one. Of course, this isn't always the case, but I'd like to think so.

How can they be absolutes, if they are different?

Don't mean to nitpick, just trying to understand.

I think of absolutism as One Way.
 

Space Socks

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Thank you for pointing that out

I should clarify. I use (absolute)s to encompass for what is potentially true.

It may also be in my error to apply it so to ideas, so perhaps implicational rather than absolutes.
 

UniqueMixture

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Yes, unlocked infinite potential & unconditional love for all entities.
 

Viridian

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I'm kind of insecure, so I guess I keep trying to find some sort of heuristic...
 

RaptorWizard

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In Einstein's Theory of Relativity, light is the reference point all speeds are compared against.
 

Such Irony

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It's kind of difficult not to imagine having a frame of reference for things.

Maybe its just in my nature to compare and contrast things.
 

skylights

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I prefer to take in a whole boatload of frames of references, then strive to come up with a unified, all-encompassing whole. I'm not devoted to any of them; it'd be a lie to say that I'm not affected by societal expectations, but I do try to dig into what it's really about, which means continually chewing and spitting out different worldviews.

Me too.

My frame of reference is static but constantly being adjusted - added to and taken away from. I find that many frames overlap and fit into one another, and many add up to form a better defined picture just like adding axes to a graph - like using both the Enneagram and MBTI to describe personality. They are different systems but can work alongside one another without discounting one another's validity.

As for needing - I think it is part of human nature to seek consistency in worldview.
 

nanook

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i call it worldview. and that includes my understandig of human nature and my selfimage. and it's the most relevant thing to me. i consciously navigate in life, by working hard on this 'reference'/worldview. then, how i act follows from this reference in automatic, spontanous, unplanned manner, for the most part. so it's my main area of intra-personal intelligence.
 

UniqueMixture

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If you only have one frame of reference you're boring and wrong. Genius is how many contradictory ones you can hold before going insane
 
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