Questioning

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I – Our ability to know is necessarily limited by our ability to perceive. 

II – There are known knowns, those ideas, concepts, or principles which are known to be perceptually true due to close observation and rigorous testing.

III – There are known unknowns, those ideas, concepts, or principles which are presumed to be true but cannot be perceptually proven true.

IV – There are unknown unknowns, those ideas, concepts, or principles which have yet to be presumed.

V – The nature and purpose of a given question must be clear in its composition for it to be answerable in a meaningful way.

VI – As our understanding increases our ability to formulate and answer complex questions increase.

VII – Some questions can be answered in perceptually certain terms at this time while others exist in a realm of pure thought separate from perception.

VIII – As our understanding increases our ability to move questions from the realm of pure thought into the realm of close observation and rigorous testing increases.

IX – It is empirically vital to imagine many sorts of questions as even a ridiculous question proven to be perceptually false is valuable in its elimination of an incorrect possibility.

I – The method by which we compose questions must be carefully evaluated in an effort to minimize inherent biases.

II – The manner in which a question is asked will create bias.

III – The manner in which a question can be answered will create bias.

IV – The reason why we ask a question will create bias.

V – The nature of our existence, biology, perception, and language will create bias. 

VI – Bias can be mitigated but cannot be fully eliminated.

I – For information to be most effectively used several aspects of its nature must be known. 

II – Does the information originate from within or without?

III – By what manner was the information collected?

IV – What is the nature and how complex is the information?

V – Is the information verifiable, that is can it be verified by repeatable testing?

VI – What types of biases can be associated with the nature, the collection, or the interpretation of the information?

VII – The careful evaluation of information based on these criteria is beneficial to the common good and to the individual.

I – Seeing is the concept of closely evaluating something in an effort to extract the maximum amount of information possible.

II – The method by which something is observed will affect what is seen.

III – Limitations in the observer’s knowledge will affect what is seen. 

IV – Preexisting information on what is being observed will affect what is seen.

V – The observers biases will affect what is seen. 

VI – Despite the difficulties inherent to close observation it is a vital tool that must be employed to evaluate all aspects of our existence.

VII – Making the honest effort to truly see is beneficial to the greater good and to the individual.