Lesser of Two Evils

What is this concept of "the lesser of two evils?" It is an idea most commonly used when a person has to choose between two (or I guess it could be more than two) choices, all of which are unfavorable. This choice is sort of an act of damage control. I understand that this phrase might be useful in pointing out the stickiness of a situation, but I would like to point out how, if taken literally, the idea is a contradiction in terms. I would say that "good" is the lesser of two evils. And I guess you could also say that "evil" is the lesser of two goods, but really there is no such thing as "the lesser of two evils" because if we have a choice between two things and one is the better choice, than it is "good" in this sense, by definition. "Evil" is the bad choice, by definition.

Lose the Truth

The Christian culture would behoove itself to stop using the word "truth" so much. In fact, if they could cut that word out of their lexicon all together like they did with "fuck" and "shit," they might find themselves in better shape and losing fewer souls to the dark side. The proactive approach that Christianity seems to be taking now, in its strongest circles, is to redefine the word. This is not going to work. Its a noble idea, but its just not going to work. They succeeded with the word "life," I do believe. It now means having Jesus in your heart or something. They succeeded with "good" and "evil." These words, now, basically represent the poles on a continuum which represents one's adherence to or rejection of Christian traditions. You know, come to think of it, they might succeed in redefining the word "truth." But once they do, it might make it harder to win converts. The easier thing would be to rid their world view of the concept all together. They're half way there. Science has a stigma about it. Questioning and thinking is sort of frowned upon or laughed off. I think there could be a real draw to a religion that never speaks of truth and just pulls the individual into this imaginary world without acknowledging any ideas of proof or lack thereof. The ultimate good could be a sense of utility. This would give Christianity a leg up on secularism whose culture seems in so many ways to embrace an endless searching.

Music as Language Abstracted

To appreciate music is to appreciate language in its abstracted form. It is to appreaciate all the elements of communication separated from their assumed purpose of relaying a clear-cut peice of information in a precise and documentable manner. Without this necessity we have the elements of rhythm and tone and harmony and pitch functioning still to communicate, but now, it is to stimulate the right side of the brain rather than the left.

I think that with regular old human communication, there is this necessity to put forth some solid idea, but the other elements are present also. You want to have a sense of timing and pitch and entertain that right brain also, but music takes out the first part to focus on the abstracted elements, perhaps with the goal of enlightening us to enjoy the music that we make with each other everyday by just talking.