Reduce

It’s possible to put a bit of wood under an electric sander and grind away until all that is left is that once piece which is too small, and flies away rather than allow itself to be sanded smaller.

As a metaphor for thought and understanding, it would be tempting to think that, once we apply a vigourous technique to a problem, that whatever remains must be a truth.

But a tool’s limit is not a thing’s limit, and to grind without purpose is not correct application of a tool. We can often use them to shape the answer how we please. We can see the angel within and sand until it is freed. Or attempt to grind down to nothingness and see what remains.

In the search for truth both approaches may be flawed yet feel justified.

Sanding down and down and down might feel like we are getting closer to a truth, but destroys the object in pursuit of its essence.

When your method of investigation requires eliminating the thing you are investigating, stop.

This has been a general thought in response to analysis of ideas presented in a reductionist way. When someone discovers a piece of research into the human condition or an aspect of philosophy and runs away with it, or reports on it in a thoughtless way. The proud new owner of a drill announcing “hey, did you know everything is just loads of holes?”