Mental Health Philosophy: You are mattering

Exploring the being of knowing

Agency Matters, Critical theory, Epistemology, Philosophy

Orientation. What can we say is true?

December 17, 2024

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Is what you think true?

Is there a definition of a term we can say is true?

Is there a condition that we can think of and put into words that is true?

Is there an answer we can give that has an answer for what is true?

Yes.

And no

The issue is less about what we can configure in definition what is true than it is the feeling that accompanies the idea which then establishes the meaning of where and how we seek confirmation of our experience. At some point there is a truth that is communicated which exceeds (to thus precede) definition. And does not require an assertion of proof, because the proof is already verified by the communication.

Less rational or irrational, thought, ideas, society, identity, power, and so on.

This indicates truth as a function of orientation upon things.

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A note on how I use AI. I write everything on this blog myself: the ideas, the arguments, the words. I do use AI, but as an editor, not a co-author. It helps me with grammar, formatting, and structure. That use is recent: AI has been part of my process only for roughly the past year’s worth of posts. Everything older was written without it, because there was nothing like it to use. What I have found is that AI most often misinterprets what I write philosophically, so its suggestions are usually wrong, and a good deal of my attention and editing goes into sculpting each post until it reflects the ideas correctly. The ideas are never AI’s.

For transparency, I keep a Word document of my original writing and the full exchanges, back and forth with the AI, that produced each post. If anyone is interested in how a piece came together, that record is available.

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About this blog

Essays in mental health philosophy—less “tips,” more why things work (or don’t). I look at the first principles under therapy, psychiatry, psychology, and everyday life, and occasionally share notes from papers and books-in-progress.

This space stands alongside—not inside—my counseling practice. If you’re seeking therapy in Colorado, there’s a link in the footer.

About the author

Lance Kair, LPC, blends philosophy, mindfulness, and counseling to help clients find agency, meaning, fulfillment, and healing through deep understanding, self-awareness, and compassionate therapeutic collaboration.