After reading the Introduction to Turns of Thought, I realize that my idea of reflexive wasn’t complete. Reflexive goes yet another step: we reflect, we evaluate from another point of view, and then we have to apply that point of view to our own “truths.” We have to challenge our own beliefs. Reflexive inquiry goes beyond critical thinking. Being reflexive means being flexible in perspective, and being malleable; we have to be willing to amend our previous beliefs. In the process, we also discover new understanding about ourselves. In other words, being reflexive can cause a change in our own identity, by giving us new understanding about ourselves. We find new “truths.”
I have always been fascinated by the idea of truth. As I have written in my previous blogs, I do not believe in absolutes. I can be quite passionate about my beliefs, but I am not stubborn. Unless, of course, I am arguing with my husband, then I stomp my feet and dig my heels in. But more often than not, I am generous, and do attempt to see things from many sides. I cannot help but to equate the idea of many truths to my understanding of science. Einstein was the master at many truths with his Theory of Relativity (notice, it’s not the “law” of relativity). For example, he posited in a thought experiment that two people witnessing simultaneous lightning strikes on a moving train would describe two different events. If two bolts of lightning were to strike the front end of the train and the back end of the train, simultaneously, an observer on a platform directly across from the middle of the train would see the lightning strikes at the same time. But, a person seated in the center of the train, directly across from the observer, would believe that the bolt the front end of the train occurred first. These experiments have been conducted and found to be “true,” at least for now, until someone finds a new “truth.” I cannot help myself, I am a science geek! (For a quick video on this click here <------) But, the point to this off course rant is that being reflexive allows us to discover multiple truths.
My favorite line in the reading was, “Truth, like understanding, like the processes of reading and writing themselves, is always context specific and always acquired by degree.” I have tried to articulate that sentiment in both my previous blogs, but failed miserably compared to this simple, beautiful, sentence. It reminded me of a quote by Thomas Paine, “Time makes more converts than reason.” It doesn’t seem to fit this discussion until you think about the idea that in order to be reflexive, there has to be an element of time that has passed. Distance gives rise to willingness to change. When she stated that “Truth…. is always context specific and always acquired by degree” I felt that it equaled the sentiment of time being an important factor. Reason comes into play, but only after time. Now, I am rambling again, but that is the name of my blog.
I truly enjoy reading discourses on “truth.” I am always one to challenge the beliefs of others, as well as my own, and I love having additional ammunition to do so! I am so fascinated with the idea of truth, because I am inherently inquisitive and difficult. I never seem to accept a final answer, I am always asking “why,” to the point of exhaustion.
I'm not sure if my idea of reflexive v. reflective is correct, but I'm open for discourse!