cf. thoughts

Luc Larocque is a Canadian mathematician who has rediscovered his passion for philosophy. He has also been thinking about spirituality and how that ties into issues present in modern times, and he seeks to confer with the world at large about his thoughts. cf. thoughts The name for this blog was chosen to reflect just how much that little acronym, cf , pertains to rational discourse. The slogan is based on one of the many apt definitions of confero , the latin word we abbreviate as cf . See  wordsense  for a complete list of these incredibly fitting definitions. I also knew I wanted to write about c om f ort(ing) thoughts  and how difficult it can be to tackle one's own beliefs, which seemed like a good theme to keep as a backdrop to many of my posts.

We are all prejudiced in the sense that the very act of learning trains our neural networks to rapidy pattern-match based on experience; using this common brain machinery, we all naturally pre-judge. Every new experience slightly alters the brain's connections, "deepening the grooves" of those concepts that are re-assured by new information, and transforming neural connections involving conceptions we find to be errant in some way. In this manner, we use our ever-changing neural programming to make rapid judgements at first glance, sometimes leading to serious and important problems. Consider someone who pets the same black cat every day. The cat is lovely – always purring affectionately as it rubs itself on the person's leg – and this person quickly develops a bond with the cat. Everyone has heard the superstitious belief that black cats are bad luck, but this person's experience is quite the opposite. One day, our friend encounters another black cat. Hav...