My Facebook friend, a Marine of Euro-American ethnicity, posted a video interview of two African Americans of Southern heritage (An elder and junior) discussing success in life. The interviewee is 77 year old Morgan Freeman who is the significant other -in a way - of Diane Keaton (A woman of Euro-American dissent). The conversation involves the idea of wealth, genetics and race as relational topics concerning poverty and success. Mr. Freeman is an excellent role-model for anyone from any dissent or ethnicity. He speaks from his own experiences and conclusions about life in the realm of the relational topics discussed. In that context and in few others he is correct. But when his comments are taken outside of his and the hosts personal situations the term Fallacy of the Consequent becomes an issue concerning ubiquitous egalitarianism. The issues of discussion between the two men should have been funneled towards the term conditional: Under certain conditions of birth, peer, family, education and financial conditions... certain personalities can aspire and succeed and/or distress and fail in our Neo-capitalistic polity System. Master Freemans comments, when taken for a resolution for anyone in our society, are wrong because it affirms the consequent: If its raining then the streets are wet. The streets are wet.... Therefore, its raining. Or... If its snowing then the streets will be covered with snow. The streets are covered with snow. Therefore, its snowing... But what if it stopped raining or snowing and all you are witnessing is the result of a special climatic condition wherein one is familiar with as doable but only under certain climatic conditions? Personality is formed by genetics and environment. The system we live in is not made for everyone to be equal in the sense of financial, educational, employment, health or household wealth. But it is almost equal in the sense of access to information that can lead to such opportunities wherein unfortunate situations can be transcended with the proper modal behavioral conditioning (Thinking, Actions, Feelings)... Of course people of different socio-economic, educational and ethnic back-rounds or conditions can rise or fall in the context of success or failure. Since the conditions are pretty much set and nowadays there are laws that can protect those of significant means concerning the acquisition of education, ruthless methods of persuasion (criminal behavior of organized crime groups), corporate employment leadership support or governmental legal and military support... Under these conditions... Certain personalities can be successful that are naturally industrious or have been conditioned through an operant practical set that has given them a process of skill and talent refinement and cultivation in the preparation for opportunities to excel. Concerning the interview comments the error is made when the Arrogance of Master Freeman becomes apparent as he simplifies a very complicated question. Although he was made aware of possible holes in his thinking by the interviewer he does not reverse his obviously entrenched position that if he can do it than anyone can. This is the personification of affirming the consequent because individually (Rich or Poor)the way it works in our world is not necessarily the way it works for the entire world. But Master Freeman is an actor not an academician and we err in expectation because in our society we have placed Celebrities with god like powers of awareness ... that in reality do not exist. Master Freeman hosts a show that presents a pseudo-intellectual pretense and he sounds the part and is representative of success but he is not an authority on socio-economic theory or Socio-Psychological research. Although there are many parts to this thespian what has made him famous is acting a part that may or may not exist... For the Euro-Americans and Latino/Asian/Afro Americans who have become successful and forget how it happened.. to them and more to whom find solace in Master Freemans conclusions ... is to fall into the trap of compassionless hubris. So beware of this if you find security in his perspectives when discussing the issues of disparity in America So does genetics play a part in success? Yes, but only to a degree. Does environment play a part in success? Yes, but only to a degree. Does race play a part in success? Yes, but only to a degree. And in the end Master Freemans conclusions are only partially correct and omits certain variables that are important to make valid conclusions on a very complicated topic.... That it is the degree that Race influences systemic support or renunciation concerning access and personal proclivities towards discipline, commitment and courage... These variables are what really makes the difference in success and failure ... https://youtube/watch?v=wIKGbur0QLU .
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:31:37 +0000
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