Radical Epistemology

I've come to realize that the definitive philosophy toward my observation and participation within this world, one that I truly embody and employ on a perpetual basis is as follows: There is not a thing that I will ever say, do, demand or defend that I cannot epistemologically justify on a threefold level of belief, evidence for the belief being truth, and a warranted explanation of the evidence’s justification of the belief.

This simple existential thesis posits that insofar as one’s belief system is robust in its integrity, yet curious and reflexive, always in search of truth- There is truly nothing to fear in the grand experiment of human socialization and existential intent. When a bulletproof belief system is unprecedented and unapologetic in its logic- no statement you cannot defend, no form of intent that you cannot logically explain, no vision that can fall victim to the pseudo-intellectual black hole of ambiguity and nonchalantness, you become uniquely and profoundly powerful.

There is no being that can hold power over me, that can scare me, nor is there anything that can distract me from executing my vision, because at this young age, I've mastered the art of unflinching acceptance: radical epistemology.

Why do we brush our teeth every morning? Because we know good hygiene is good for ourselves and the grand schema of our self-optimization. Why do we drink water? Because we know that hydration is an essential facet of our energy reserve for any given day. At the core of these very simple decisions lie a framework of epistemology. A belief, evidence for the belief being truth, and a warranted explanation of the evidence’s justification of the belief. For example, the decision here is brushing my teeth- I believe brushing my teeth is a good idea. I believe it is a good idea because there is a litany of scientific evidence in support of good hygienic practice, as well as the experiential warrant that explains the belief to be true, and therefore the decision is good: By seeing my teeth remain healthy over the years, as well as receiving reinforcement from healthcare professionals, it is obvious that my belief is firmly grounded in reality.

Furthermore, we certainly don’t think through this consciously every single day, as over time the belief has become so engrained within us that the action is implicit.

Now, imagine how much power and control over your existence you would have over your day-to-day life if you scale this simple framework up to high-stakes, or even life-changing decisions: what if you could stand unapologetically firm in your truth and capability- within your career, interpersonal relationships etcetera, with the same implicit ease that you can confidently tell anyone that basic hygiene is a good idea? You can.

Let’s consider another example: You want to post an opinion or thought project on social media, but are stuck in a state of what seems like irrational fear surrounding how it will be perceived, so you decide against it- let’s evaluate: the decision against is rooted in a fleeting belief that people will judge you unfairly. When we move to the claim and warrant, we see how this belief is structurally flimsy- who are these people who will judge you unfairly? Why do they matter? Do you respect their worldviews? Have you considered that their judgement stems from a place of deep insecurity? All of the answers to these questions are arbitrary at best, and therefore not substantive enough to be considered truth. On the flip side, however, the question of why am I going through with this? Yields much greater results. The decision becomes the action of speaking your truth. The belief is that speaking your mind is fruitful- the evidence is your robust intellect, the warrant being that you’ve invested time, resources, and energy into educating yourself and developing your perspective on the topic. When weighed against the former, this choice becomes as simple as morning hygiene. The most powerful tool one can have is consummate knowledge of the self. It’s the ultimate vibrant light that illuminates and exposes all of the fragility that stands before it. This is what I work toward every single day.

I urge you to do the same.

However, that power should never take precedence over the framework at hand. When you ask yourself, why did I do/say this? Why do I believe this? What evidence or warrant justifies this? And draw blank after blank as answers- that's how you know it's time to learn. It’s time to establish a new belief and rigorously analyze until you’ve arrived at a newfound truth that you can stand firm in. One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is denying this aspect of the process to protect the ego. Being wrong is a beautiful thing, and it is only natural as we are humans, not infallible gods. It's the essential step in making this entire decision calculus robust- it’s an educational process serving the pursuit of truth through curiosity, not a shortsighted path of aggrandizement that only serves the ego.

Over time, and through a plethora of experiences, this commitment to truth that I'll coin as "radical epistemology" will allow you to be a discernibly more confident and powerful person, as you will have a robust, layered mechanism for understanding and believing the things you do. An active, organic, and free-flowing display of a profound truth: that you truly know yourself.

with deep love,

bleakhaven