We simply do not have the time or inclination to do what many persons want us to do in expressing our beliefs, perhaps showing the course of our thinking and justifying our conclusions and conduct. Those same persons will do what we do – generalize. Out of our experience (what happened to us), and research (what happened to others) we generalize in thought and language about this or that matter. The concept of generalization even appears in studies on logic. The Greeks gave us the syllogism as a basis for their logic. The famous example, used through the centuries, relates: Major premise: All men are mortal. Minor premise: Plato is a man. Conclusion: Plato is a mortal. The test of the logic has been met – each of the main factors appears twice in the right balance: men, mortal and Plato. If the major and minor premises are accepted, the conclusion, if incorporating the factors of the first two and balancing them by incorporating the two terms to be repeated, is accepted as true. At this point in history, America is going through a period when same-sex marriage is being approved in some states (sixteen at the time of this writing). For centuries the syllogism has held: Major premise: Marriage is a legalized relationship between adult male and a female. Minor premise: John and Mary are adult male and female. Conclusion: John and Mary qualify for legal marriage. What has been taken as true, and relating to marriage concepts, with rights and conducts tied to the basic reasoning is challenged by removing the gender consideration, and pressing for a new logic to live by in relating to marriage, perhaps family.
Following the basic logic of the past, there was a logic that defined the marriage and the family that included, children of the marriage, the roles of the genders, and the rights and duties of the parties, making a personal and life history for the couple in the marriage, the issue and the balance of society. The basic logic of marriage leading to family truth, if the new social orientation is successful in gaining new definition for marriage, there will be an extensive impact on the understanding of the basic institution of society. For example, even same sex marriages may identify one member carrying the male role and the other carrying the female. All of this suggests a new paradigm for society, with a logic that can create generalizations, and adjustments that relate to truth and morality (value orientation). Logic and evidence lose to emotions. The problem of generalization, even in the history of logic, which also must touch on right and wrong in human thought and conduct is illustrated in a Virginia Woolfe quotation: If people are highly successful in their professions they lose their senses. Sight goes. They have no time to look at pictures. Sound goes. They have no time to listen to music. Speech goes. They have no time for conversation. They lose their sense of proportion – the relations between one thing and another. Humanity goes. Here there are several generalizations. Do they hold up? If I ask that question of the author, and the author has sufficient evidence and understanding to make them hold up, I presume that I have heard a truthful statement. Even before I have heard the generalizations I do not assume that they cover all successful persons. I may believe, even after hearing the evidence and interpretation that the statement may stand, but I still don’t believe it covers all successful persons. A generalization is just that – a general belief that becomes true for the persons for whom it is true and applicable. I have met many successful persons for whom this statement from Wolfe applies, and many for whom it does not. A person may make private truths.
Persons seeking truth and understanding leading to wisdom learn how to treat the seemingly infinite number of generalizations offered and received in the search for truth and the good life. Persons making blanket (covering all situations) generalizations about the church and Christians are not to be regarded with sufficient objectivity to take much of our time. They are not likely open to meaningful discussion. Christians making blanket generalizations about secular society are not to be regarded with much of our time. They are not likely open to meaningful discussion. Intellectual humility belongs so that we can believe and act on reflective thought and faith that is open to new information leading to better thought and conduct. Persons and societies may be off balance and distort the search. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020