Non-Contradiction

"Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong."

- Ayn Rand

Instead of arguing about the veracity of this quote, I will quote Avicenna (Ibn Sina) from here.

"Anyone who denies the law of non-contradiction should be beaten and burned until he admits that to be beaten is not the same as not to be beaten, and to be burned is not the same as not to be burned."
You might not believe in non-contradiction and hence we might have contradictory beliefs. But that's alright, because we do not share the same premise. In a discussion or debate, it is necessary to have such contradictory beliefs, to make it interesting. Though, more often than not, such contradictions lead to altercations (even wars!).

What if one person has contradictory beliefs? Is it but not a recipe for disaster? If you believe in non-violence and at the same time are not fine with being a push-over, should you doubt why happiness is elusive?

Existence Vs Consciousness

[Stage Set: The backdrop is pitch black. A mahogany table and chair is placed at the center of the stage. A glass full of some clear looking liquid is placed on the table.]

[Existence enters from the left, drifting into view, walking with no apparent purpose. It sits on the chair and takes a few sips from the clear looking liquid. In jumps Consciousness, looking quite wispy, from the right, conjuring multi-coloured firecrackers all around it, indicating its happiness over some kind of unfathomable victory over Existence.]

Existence: What's with the smirk?

Consciousness: I won! I was here first!

Existence: (amused) Huh? And who has been drinking this "clear looking liquid" then?

Consciousness: (closes its eyes trying to concentrate very hard) Poof!

Existence: (even more amused) I don't see where this is going.

Consciousness: (opens its eyes and is disappointed to see the glass and "clear looking liquid" still in front of it) Meh! Explain this! You couldn't have been first unless I was there to see that you came first. So I came first!

Existence: That is not even logical! Do you mean to say that I am here only because you can see me? Coz that is just stupidity!

Consciousness: Well...but is that not kind of true! I mean, without me, who would ever know that you are here?

Existence: Okay, smart lass! If I wasn't here and so wasn't this table, glass and chair, who would you see and know then?

Consciousness: Ha! Gotcha! I would still be able to see and know my "images"!

Existence: Wow! You really are a self obsessed freak! I'm outta here!

[Existence exits.]

Consciousness: Hey! Don't go...I'll....(Consciousness unwillingly disappears into the "black"drop.)

[Curtain falls.]

THE END