Unconvinced Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Doubt is a cognitive faculty that is to be credited with one of the most fundamental beginnings of rationality.

It is by no means unique to humans, for even my delightfully agreeable dog is suspicious of my intent when I try calling him to a cuddle a few hours after an accidentally traumatic nail clipping session. But the higher level cognition of doubt in a logical precept, with no personal memory of suffering, might be unique to human (or at least to higher apes).

It is remarkable that the logical proposition x implies y might be logically consistent in all respects [here, the following complete set of conditions apply: if {x(true) AND y(true)} then x->y is true, if {x(false) AND y(true)} then x->y is true, if {x(false) AND y(false)} then x->y is true, and finally, if {x(true) AND y(false)} then x->y is false], and yet we are sometimes unable to accept the proposition.

The classic example here is the statement "if there is smoke there is fire". Slotting the individual variable's (smoke and fire) truth values in the above logical formalism allows one to realize that the ONLY way the veracity of the statement can be assured if there is a case that there is smoke yet no fire. In other words, just because two events occur in a correlated fashion does not guarantee their mutual causality.

This emphasis on negation in the structure of 'rational belief', or doubt, is the fundamental instinct in humans that allows us to question correlation as causality. It is here that belief negates doubt. Ultimately it is a human choice whether to let belief command our way of thinking or to let doubt lead us in our quest for living.

There is no way around belief because ultimately we must resignedly accept certain propositions, such as that logic is acceptable (though Goeddel has shown otherwise). Yet, it is the domain wherein to let rationality rule over belief is what guides our actions as human beings.

The latest crisis in the middle east is yet another blow in our fond belief that we are a rational being.

Lynette, Clairedelune, fc22, stefi, bnallama, Luko, kajspice, KevRyan, prezntime, chc, tuffellow, claire526, noborders, scotthosner, kasalazar, batalay, bmukherjee has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Lynette (1615) 2006-07-23 11:37

Hi Animesh, lovely portrait with good depth of field. I found your note very informative and quite deep on a personal level.
Good photo in relation to note.
Well done.
Lynette

Clairedelune (4885) 2006-07-23 11:48

Hi Animesh.
A great photo. NO doubt.
A good photographer + a good camera = a great photo.
Is this always true? No.
Because there is the observer interference.
But me, (ir)rational being sometimes, love your photo(s), to the bones. That one is a fabulous "collage" (I know, it is not). And your note have to be read carefully more than once. Thanks for treating us as intelligent people.
Claire
(rational and being... a contradiction in the terms?)

[2] +

Luko (13896) 2006-07-23 13:14

Animesh, Do you know, how in french, we express the utmost perplexity of someone in front of a problem he or she cannot even chose a way to start solving it? We say that he or she is "like the chicken who found a knife". Don't get me wrong but I think the right side girl has a very "fowly" way to look.

It might illustrate their look or it might be our own reader's look, as well, facing this image duplication which I'm still trying to understand.

Reading your caption, rewinded the time back to the epistemology courses I attended a while ago. Popper vs. Friedman, the hypothetic-deductive model and Kuhn's paradigmas.

Very oddly, it seems your scan quality has increased compared to some of yor previous shots. the white and black contrast is spot on.

[2]

fc22 (746) 2006-07-23 14:14

Agree.

Greetings, Florin

Polonaise (5638) 2006-07-23 14:26

It's amazing to what lengths a perfectly rational human beings can go, if full of doubts upon the logicality of recent world events (Recent, I said?...Well, let's say only the last four thousand years!).
The verbalistics of your note Animesh can only be exciting literature to the very few among us. To those, who are still trying to understand the complexity of our action upon reactions, or vice versa. Therefore the presence of two super brainiers, Claire and Luko seems to be logically explained. What is a rational doubt is MY presence here (and that phenomenon can't be logically explained).
Your note enriched your photo enormously. Then, and only then we are able to understand the look of the girls' faces and the messy bottom half of the picture.
And when we finally reached the last lines of your script, trying desperately to catch the breath and de-fragment the fragmented cells of our brains, you hit us again with the surprise, that can only be comparable with the 'Hezbollah' anticipated by the world, Wunderwaffe' surprise…
Everything of what has been written above is just your attempt to understand the non-understandable situation in the Middle East !!!!!
What about the befuddled faces of our lovely girls?
Do they still fit the picture? Do they even know where Beirut and Haifa are located?
Dear Animesh. You just posted one more reason for me to sit in front of my computer on that delightful Sunday morning and punch those funny looking buttons on my keyboard.
And what a feeling that is…For not being alone, but rather in the exquisite company of the people I love and respect (Well, at least some of them).
To you, my friend
g.

[6] +

bnallama (3755) 2006-07-23 17:19

Animesh I am not sure that I understood every single word you wrote... But there is some serious and fundamental aspect of life to be understood here.. It is late and my brain is drained so will try to read it again...

This is an amazing photo with multitude 'faces'... A simply wonderful capture...Bala

tongapup (1574) 2006-07-23 19:09

Hi Animesh! Wow, what a series of expressions here. This is a very human photo... I bought a big book of Erwitt's photos recently and it seems to me that you have something of his spirit in this photo. But then in the bottom of the shot, that large dark silhouette comes creeping in, like a weird industrial harbinger, and it feels distinctly ominous. Strange shot.

Love the girl on the right.

[2] +

kensimage (8543) 2006-07-23 20:40

I'm not sure I can accept statement that "for every person x, x is downcast implies x is doubting," as seems to be implicit in your description! Perhaps the girl has instead come to accept as truth (there's "belief" again) something she would prefer not be so--she is exhibiting disappointment!

Anyway, if logic, rational decision-making, and weighing of costs and benefits ruled the day, then all the fast-food restaurants serving up unhealthy stuff would have long gone out of business, corporations would have no marketing departments, our consumption-oriented retail economy would be down the tubes, and here in the US we would have a different president. So obviously logic doesn't rule the day, and I guess it never has.

Oh, about the photo--I like the expressions that so clearly reflect inner feelings, you caught them well! The dark shadow at the bottom is intriguing but I can't decide if it distracts too much from the main theme. Technically the B/W is very well done, and the whole thing is thought-provoking, so it is certainly a success! Regards, Ken.

[2] +

s10001in (1485) 2006-07-23 21:14

Anismesh..
Really nice shot..
Creative one..
well done.
Bit differnt than your previous B/W series in contract.

Nice shot.
TFS,
Shailendra

Furachan (0) 2006-07-23 22:21

This one is outstanding, A. At first I thought it was two pics glued together so to speak but no, it's all in the one "take". Besides the extremely complex weave of reflections, broken ghlass and split frames here, I must also commend your brilliant note - philosophical, discursive, literary and yes, lyrical in a way.
This is a major treat, my friend.
Best,
FRancis

nerve (10212) 2006-07-24 2:39

Such an intelligent picture and note Animesh, (your note just reminded me of my university days and some of our talks with the brightest lecturers in the college.. (we had lots of debates about Popper vs. Friedman- funny as just Luko had pointed out, i had the same recall in my mind ;)

your double exposure made the image even more sophisticated.. i love the facial expression of the young lady on the right side, apart from being 'unconvinced' she looks a bit lost too..(or undecisive maybe..)

so thought provoking, definitely works for me..
Best.

ALSOM (6616) 2006-07-24 9:57

Hi Animesh,

The 2 girl expression are priceless and illustrate so well the situation where some logic cannot be easily shared.

Back to your note (I just burnt my remaining & single neurone after reading your note ;o)). its unfortunate to see that nowadays, the only logic or rational that matter come from the strongest one, wether it is wrong or not. That's a pity.
Thanks, Alain -

kajspice (4534) 2006-07-24 17:31 [Comment]

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yanseiler (20) 2006-07-26 4:28

Hi Animesh, I love the mood that you have captured here, those girls look a little bit depressed, seems that they are in a stand-by mode like if you would have turned off like you would do with a tv... The reflection gives a kind of dreamy effect to the whole composition, a nice one captured at the right time.
Kindly
Yan

Salil_B (737) 2006-08-09 11:16

Well, the belief in rationality dies hard ...
Even today human beings consider themselves apable of rational thought, even though rationality is highly overrated. Ask any Bush-ite. It's muh better to accept whatever is put on your plate.
But these girls seem thoughtful, unconvinced, indifferent, and slightly amused. I hope they do not entertain 'opinions' of their 'own'. That would be anathema to a large proportion today's youth.
You have a way with your amera, Animesh. Exellent image. I would have preferred to call it a 'decisive moment' image.
Salil

KevRyan (22422) 2006-08-11 3:48

Fantastic shot Animesh - beautifully caught social expressions and a nicely made point in your note - which i certainly need to read more than once - such delicate complexities in the image keep my eye continually busy - this little ring of thought that becomes manifest in the air between them is just wonderful.

bw kev

prezntime (3945) 2006-08-22 14:01

Greetings Animesh.
Simply incredible.

The look on the faces of those girls is very humorous and befuddled. Your note compliments this photo perfectly. Also it speaks to a greater meaning...
Well done,
Chris

chc (1468) 2006-09-06 17:27

Nicely seen... No doubt on that!
Christophe

carolskie007 (459) 2006-10-18 0:22

urghhh!!!!what a note! my brain nerves burst to bleeding! I think, I'd rather rest my belief in mystery than doubt and try to rationalize it....whatever.

Whew! your note is one of a kind, it teased my brain...hehehe. Your photo, well...I have not seen much of a double exposure here in TE, after 60 frames, I salute you for capturing the girls expression that speaks the untowards situation.

TFS
carol

noborders (14201) 2007-03-27 13:39

I would not have seen this photo, were it not for today's "Featured Critique" from Polonaise - A little bit late, but really with great admiration for this photo of adolescents, having the same pose of some of my nieces... and also, for the intelligent accompanying note = un grand Bravo !!!

andeweg (139) 2007-04-24 1:20

Nice work on your photograph. The effect of the reflection in the glass window gives it an extra dimension taking this picture out of the 'ordinary'.

Well done, and by the way if x=false and y=false its outcome is false, but that is only my opinion. You might have another way looking at it.

Kind regards,

Hans

rcrick (346) 2007-06-27 6:14

Fabulous picture, still deciphering the note, brain slowly going into meltdownnnnnnnnn,……… will we ever learn ?

woladorsky (804) 2007-11-09 4:08

Dear Animesh,

I think your note together with the image should be circulated to all memebers and also outside this site. Logic...what is logical in our bluee orb that slowly is becoming a grey hot one? TRUE & FALSE, we think we are logical but that is FALSE. The logic of this world vanished when human beings became greedy, introducing the so called "private property". On top of that they added religion, confusing natural mysticism mixing it into the pot of perdition.
I don't know if there is hope, but I still hope and wish that logic is re-inserted to our views and ideas and implemented into positive actions.

Thanks for sharing such a great photo and your thoughts.

Regards from Eritrea

Rolando

digitalmatrix (111) 2008-08-11 6:09 [Comment]