Investigation of truth

Our topic this week is investigation of the truth, so why have I asked you to watch videos about diet in order to begin to explore this topic?

The videos about the Diet for a New America series are an introduction to this topic, because they explain some of the consequences when individual’s interests and needs interfere with the welfare of nature, also it reveals the consequences behind the eating habits of many people. And this topic “Investigation of the truth”, is related with it; this unit explains that investigation of truth “is to guide an individual’s twofold purpose”, which is that individuals don´t have to worry only for their own interests but also for the society in a simultaneous way.

What relationships can you find between the videos and the reading?

The relationships between the videos and the reading are: firstly, the human nature has two aspects, the material and the spiritual , and according to the reading “although the material nature is indispensable for existence in this world, if it is allowed to dominate consciousness the consequences are injustice, cruelty and egotism”. In the videos it clearly shows the domination of the material over the spiritual and the consequences of it, for example: it says that Americans eating preference was the meat and because of that many farmers and entrepreneurs decide to increase the amount of meat in the market, by feeding the livestock with grains instead of grass which increase the amount of manure in many lands and the percentage of fat in the meat; this way of breeding and marketing of livestock, has several consequences for the environment and human health including: contamination of water and air, terrible diseases as cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, etc. All of this are the consequences when the material aspect is considered as a priority for humans, as a result of that, it generates injustice and cruelty not only for the nature but also for all the people.

Other relationship is that, according to the reading, for the investigation of reality it is necessary that the vision of human existence, goes beyond the needs and requirements in the daily life; “often the accomplishment of lofty goals requires self-sacrifice, and this becomes possible when one comprehends the purpose of life on this earthly plane of existence”. This statement is showed in the videos, when it says that if people change their diet, be eating less meat and more fruits and vegetables, which means for many Americans a huge sacrifice, they would contribute to their own health and also with the environment, in other words, they would accomplish the twofold purpose


What do these relationships imply about our role as individuals in our society?

These relationships imply about our role as individuals in our society that each of us are responsible for what we choose in our lifes, but also we are responsible and we have to be conscious that every decision we make affects directly to our society and also nature. The relationships show the individual as the responsible for the welfare of the environment and society by its habits of consume. There isn´t more powerful that a human being acting with collective consciousness towards the welfare of life.