One has the ability to think long-term, as with any other decision in life. Every single step we take in life has its own consequences. If we stick to looking at things in the short term, we will bind ourselves into making the same avoidable mistakes over and over again.
Therefore, improving our decision-making by trying to learn from anything that moves can dramatically increase our chances of becoming smarter and, thus, more competent thinkers.
One of the many reasons I philosophize is to improve my rationality, not to boast about it. I merely do so in a public matter and not exclusively within my own thoughts. I have made many, many mistakes in my life, so trying to avoid said mistakes is something I essentially dedicate my craft to.
I observe the world around me from the safety of my hermitage, talk with strangers and non-strangers alike, and even watch children's cartoons in order to try and better understand how to avoid making the mistakes of laugh-worthy characters. I also allow myself to make mistakes in order to better understand how to avoid them and why I should avoid them in the first place.
I take great interest in villains, because most often than not, they are bound to fail in the name of the hero's victory over them. Sometimes the villain actually succeeds in their plan, on the one hand, but even if they do, they might not maintain their status as victorious forever...
Scar from "The Lion King" is one of the few old Disney villains that actually succeeds. He becomes king through deception, trickery, and scamming. The reason he failed to survive as king, however, was because he did not kill his nephew himself, who overthrew him eventually.
Scar's fatal mistake was relying on his henchmen, the dim-witted Hyena Clan, to kill his nephew, Simba. He could've done so himself, but didn't do it for a reason that is currently hidden from my mind.
Professor Ratigan's mistake in "The Great Mouse Detective," another Disney film, was not ensuring the death of his arch-nemesis, the detective Basil. Instead of deciding whether or not Basil would die, he trapped him in a mouse trap, from which he escaped. Am I correct? I'm asking those who watched the movie, of course; I just listened to some reviews and read about the villain in question (I couldn't find the movie at the time).
Do you see why so many villains fail? Many villains fail because they commit mistakes they overlook, which in turn become their undoing. Compare it to a snowball. One. ONE dumb oversight can turn a tiny snowball into a deadly catastrophe, running you and your plans aground.
I will not let myself get beaten up by a gang of street thugs if I am able to prevent such a mistake, which could traumatize my mentality. Perhaps some of you know as much? Thus, in order to learn while increasing my safety, I try to learn from every single thing that moves. No, my ability to learn isn't perfect, but I am a philosopher, NOT because I am a perfect or exalted being.
I am a philosopher because I try to become a better being. Not necessarily a more moral being, but one that is wiser than otherwise. One that is wiser by not entirely submitting myself to experience, but by trying to think like a chess player.
Every decision we make can be reinforced by wisdom, through careful thinking and planning. This is a general statement. Every single piece of data has the hidden, enormous power to keep you, the decision maker, from avoiding regrettable outcomes of your own doing. One department's logic can undoubtedly be applied to one or more areas of life. Even something as immature as children's cartoons.
I believe that freedom of expression, impulsivity, and even hedonism are all poor excuses for not becoming a wiser human being. The first is a basic right in a democracy; the second is a personality trait; and the third is a philosophy of life. Nonetheless, none of these contradict the fact that we all can become wiser, and I include myself when saying this as well.
Many of us, including myself, can escape from our problems, or at least try doing so. While some things and beings deserve escaping, like a bear in the wilderness, it does not contradict the fact that we can better handle that which is inevitable. Other people, financial problems, illnesses, and disabilities that can be handled. Even if some issues are inevitable, I truly believe that we can all improve. Even if one is autistic, like I am.
For I have faith in humanity. And as a human being, I also have faith in myself.
There is no reason to love the same woman who has rejected you several times and is married.
If you desire and if you think this article has a great potential for contributing, please consider sharing it. I promise I will try to not interfere in the matter, for it is your own.
Ratigan's greatest weakness is his trust on his own mind.
