Philosophizing Can Lead One to Truth And Away From the Bottle
Paradox (noun) -- A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well-founded or true.
A.A. admits to a paradox in describing the first tradition in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Tradition #1 states, "Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity." (page 9)
Hmmmm... I thought I was the most important person in the room, meaning A.A. depends upon me; and you and
you and you and you. Which is more true: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts? (Aristotle) Or is the sum of its parts greater than the whole?
You might argue that A.A. is greater than the individuals who comprise it. That's true of sports teams that seem to always win without a star player. But it's A.A.'s function to make me a better person, right? So the welfare of A.A. members must be enhanced or they won't attend and the whole will die, thus suggesting the parts are more important.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions explains it thusly: "Without unity, A.A. dies. Individual liberty, yet great unity. Key to paradox: each A.A.'s life depends on obedience to spiritual principles. The group must survive or the individual will not. Common welfare comes first...."
We all are doctors and patients at the same time. We help others while receiving other's help. We are A.A., and by the transitive property, A.A. is us.
Hmmmm... I think it's a tie. It appears the whole and its parts are equally important. One without the other becomes an empty set.
The important thing, as you philosophize on today's blog post, is to avoid alcohol while you ponder. If all this works to keep you sober, none of it even matters.
A.A. admits to a paradox in describing the first tradition in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Tradition #1 states, "Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity." (page 9)
Hmmmm... I thought I was the most important person in the room, meaning A.A. depends upon me; and you and you and you and you. Which is more true: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts? (Aristotle) Or is the sum of its parts greater than the whole?
You might argue that A.A. is greater than the individuals who comprise it. That's true of sports teams that seem to always win without a star player. But it's A.A.'s function to make me a better person, right? So the welfare of A.A. members must be enhanced or they won't attend and the whole will die, thus suggesting the parts are more important.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions explains it thusly: "Without unity, A.A. dies. Individual liberty, yet great unity. Key to paradox: each A.A.'s life depends on obedience to spiritual principles. The group must survive or the individual will not. Common welfare comes first...."
We all are doctors and patients at the same time. We help others while receiving other's help. We are A.A., and by the transitive property, A.A. is us.
Hmmmm... I think it's a tie. It appears the whole and its parts are equally important. One without the other becomes an empty set.
The important thing, as you philosophize on today's blog post, is to avoid alcohol while you ponder. If all this works to keep you sober, none of it even matters.
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