Yes, handy to be trained in the techniques sales/spin doctors use, and also handy to have capacity for critical ananlysis skills.
But here’s the thing with all of that — this a disembodied subconscious mind that gets evoked. Logic can be used to justify lies as well as truth.
However an embodied mind — such as is described in many other traditions — cuts through all this.
What do I mean by that? Well, you know the saying “trust your gut feeling” or “trust your heart”.....?!
This is my fascination with the Taoist Qigong practices and tradition. Also tantric practices of Tibet and India.
Tantric Buddhism particularly is interesting — Buddhism is such a highly logical and cognitive philosophy... but the tantric form that developed in the Mahayana tradition brought it down into the body.
Check out Lakoff’s Philosophy in the Flesh book. Pretty awesome!!!!
Thanks so much, @metametheus, for this great response; my gut feeling says I'll have to check out Lakoff now 😊 I also think the eastern philosophies are much more in tune with what "self" is and how to not let "it" hinder the view on truth... I realized, after a long discussion between a Buddhist and a physicist, that no one in the west ever studies the mind from the only perspective we have direct experience with, namely our own mind, through meditation. I have much to learn! Thanks again! 🙏🏼