Because I don't.
"The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously."
Henry Kissinger said it.
Shouldn't alternatives give you an open mind? If that quote is true, then does that mean racism is good?
2007-02-10 16:52:41 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
perhaps it implies alternatives result in potential confusion.
which way to go, left or right
then at another intersection, left right or straight ahead, ect
as opposed to
"go along this path"
2007-02-10 16:59:38 · answer #1 · answered by zentoccino 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If Henry K., used this term of "absence of alternatives", purposely directed to a law term, concerning right from wrong, that's okay. If he used it as a general statement, just to "clear the mind", he has invented a short-cut to thinking for alternatives. That is a typical, political, and shallow way too make choice(s).
But I must say directing this quote to include racism is a poor choice of words, that is unless you've left out something H. K. said not included here.
2007-02-10 17:39:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you confuse open mind with clear mind. Yes, if you are open minded there should be many alternatives, but the absence of alternatives clears the mind for the task at hand. In Henry Kissinger's case: there was no alternative to ending the Vietnam war so that cleared his mind as to how to do it instead of bothering with: should he do it.
2007-02-10 17:05:16 · answer #3 · answered by Alex G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
alternatives, or choices, clutter the mind with the what if's and in many instances an abundance of alternatives leads to inaction. if a gun was held to your head and you were told to do the dishes or you would be shot, it is pretty clear what you should do. the alternative to doing the dishes is to die, perhaps some would consider it but the majority of us wouldn't regardless of our dislike of the chore.
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments- follow these or suffer.
there were no tablets of the Ten Alternatives, that would lead to much conjecture. thou shalt not kill unless you really have a good reason. that can be argued ad infinituum.
in regards to racism
the possible conclusion that racism is good does not logically follow from your supposition; shouldnt alternatives give you an open mind. the supposition itself 'alternatives give you an open mind' has nothing to do with the kissinger quote.
thoreau had it correct simplify simplify simplify
2007-02-10 17:25:25 · answer #4 · answered by the council of golden retrievers 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nobody will ever win the Battle of the Sexes. There's just too much fraternizing with the enemy.
Henry Kissinger
University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.
Henry Kissinger
The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer.
Henry Kissinger
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Kissinger was known for his rather dry and sarcastic humor. He negotiated a number of complicated issues and I believe he was expressing his frustration with people that will not look beyond to alternate solutions.
2007-02-11 01:57:00 · answer #5 · answered by PJ H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, i think in the situation of "Racism"... I think that is an alternative.... When it says absence of alternatives, i think it means everything, but the good old fashion usual. supporting racism is unusual compared to freedom.
When you don't think about all the alternatives of situations it clears your mind from cloudiness by thinking one side and getting certain peoples support, and then going to the other side and getting other peoples support...
i hope that helps, because that didn't come out like i hoped for it to :D
2007-02-10 17:02:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
With only one alternative , you don't have to think about other options. With only one choice, you don't have to worry whether your decision is right or wrong. Isn't it good? People always worry about this and that, everything and anything. Sometimes it's a leisure to be able not to think, don't you think so? There are already many problems in life.
I don't see how race/ethnicity is connected to the quote. It's what we are borned to be. A gift, not a choice. The many races/etnicities in the world represent diversity/variety, not alternatives. We should accept differences, instead of comparing with each other.
2007-02-10 17:51:52 · answer #7 · answered by Phoenix 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't make any sense and considering who said it..
The absence of alternatives means there is no hope..
Do not understand how you thought that this quote could
mean that racism is good ? Where did that come from
2007-02-10 17:03:35 · answer #8 · answered by darcy m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it does not mean that racism is good.
It means that if there are no alternatives, the mind has no problem deciding what to do, because there really is no choice.
For example in a situation where you have to "attend nature's call", it is not really a question of weighing any pros and cons about the issue, you just have to go to the loo and relieve yourself.
2007-02-10 20:13:35 · answer #9 · answered by zymzyv 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry, I fail to see the corralation,
I think Kissinger statement could be taken several ways, one way he may be saying with less option comes less to waste your thoughts on.
Ever thought of a career in politics?
They are pretty good at taking things out of context to get a serious reaction also.
2007-02-10 17:16:28 · answer #10 · answered by austin j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there are no alternatives to the one option available then there is no choice. So the mind doesn't have to wrestle with weighing the fors and againsts of several options and selecting an option. Hence the mind is "clear". - Just a guess!
2007-02-10 17:03:12 · answer #11 · answered by Alex 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋