This is http://www.essayz.com/a8804091.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %FALSE DICHOTOMIES ALIENATION EXCLUSIVITY 880409 Many dichotomies are false dichotomies in that the people who defend the polar positions of the dichotomies tend to reject the truths to which people at the other pole of the dichotomy point. The notion that the opposite poles are mutually exclusive is often false. The notion is often held that the truths associated with one pole must imply that the affirmations made at the other pole are false. False dichotomies are maintained by insecure people who seek to defend their exclusive truths which lack coherence by virtue of being exclusive. Exclusive truths can not be coherent with their excluded complementary truths, at least not in the lives of those who defensively affirm such exclusive truths. People trapped in false dichotomies tend to alienate themselves from people of integrity who appreciate the truths which are complementary and much needed. To appreciate integrity people need to seek truths in what their enemies affirm. What enemies affirm may not always be true, but may often point to truths which enemies distort in their efforts to deny truths which trouble them. We may find the way to truth in our enemies' affirmations, even though what our enemies affirm may be distortions of truth. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================