Elements of Thought: Results and Consequences : Where our reasoning takes us.

Reasoning is not static. Whenever we arrive at one conclusion, it follows that there are other things which are consistent with that conclusion. Sometimes we say, "If this is true, then what does that imply," meaning, "What other conclusions does this particular conclusion lead to," or "If this is true, then what else must also be true?"

Considering Results and Consequences

• For example:
• Suppose Joe reasoned carefully about how to spend $200 of discretionary income. He decides to spend a long weekend in Monterey.
  What is also true, if he goes to Monterey?
  • Joe is not going to spend that weekend in Chicago.
    
  • Joe cannot buy the stereo he was thinking of buying.
    
  • Joe won't be home to mow the lawn.

Do we always have a choice?

• Sometimes we have a choice regarding the outcome of our reasoning. Such is the case in the above example. However, many times logic points to one conclusion, and we have no options. For instance, the earth is a sphere. It doesn't matter what we want. It's just what it is.
  
• Another example (This time a serious one.):
• All her life, Bernice was a religious person. She attended church, read her Bible, and prayed. She always thought that her life had an inherent purpose. She always sought God's direction for her life, and attributed many events in her life to that direction. Now she is going through a particularly rough time, and is rethinking her belief in God.
  
  Suppose she determines that there is no god. What are the implications and consequences?
• Bernice wasted her time attending church.
  
• The Bible isn't true.
  
• No one hears her prayers.
  
• Her life has no inherent purpose.
  
• The existence of life is a random occurance.
  
• People have no intrinsic value apart from what they give themselves.
  
• She misenterpreted previous events. They were not God's direction.
  
• Living a life of honor and worship to a nonexistent being is pointless.
  
  Now, suppose Bernice determines that there really is a god. What are the implications and consequences?
• Bernice's current rough period of life must have some meaning or purpose and is worth enduring.
  
• Life is not an accident. It has meaning and purpose apart from Bernice's interpretation of that meaning and purpose.
  
• She is accountable to her creator.
  
• Her prayers are not merely a ritual for the purpose of feeling better, but rather they are actual communication with her creator.
  
• Clearly, this is a short list, but it illustrates that reasoning is not done in a vacuum. The conclusions we draw are connected to many other things. It is important to consider those connections.

Checklist

• Regarding results, implications, and consequences;
• Trace the implications and consequences that follow from your reasoning.
  
• Search for negative as well as positive implications.
  
• Consider all possible consequences.