Tuesday, May 13, 2008

What Does Cardinal Rule Mean?

Cardinal derives from Latin cardo meaning "hinge", so that something cardinal is important because all else hinges upon it. Therefore, a cardinal rule is a fundamental rule.

For example if you believe in Judaeo-Christian religion:

To disbelieve in God is a Cardinal Sin because everything hinges on this singular belief.

My current class is a negotiation class. A class I am very good at because it is something I have seeming always intuitively understood. Every argument or belief that a person has is built on a cardinal rule. A fundamental pillar that everything else is supported on. All you have to do is weaken that pillar and watch the walls come down. The structure collapse.

I kind of view logic and reason as eminent domain of the mind. Clearing away structures and beliefs for more efficient uses.

I also forget that not everyone appreciates having their structures undermined as much as I do. I am supposed to appreciate compromise and working to increase the size of the pie, but to do this is to admit in superstitions that I can not. A break in my personal integrity that I am unwilling to compromise in the name of some undefined greater good.

(What most people mean by the term greater good is their good. That you should do it for the greater good is that you should become subservient to their needs)

I learned that what I am really good at is debate and not negotiation, that I have a higher level of personal integrity then I thought and also I am easier to persuade then I would like to believe.

What are my Cardinal Rules that you pick up on reading my posts? Honestly what is your perception.

What are your Cardinal rules?

8 comments:

Rocketstar said...

"I also forget that not everyone appreciates having their structures undermined as much as I do."
-- So true and so sad. I love when my structures are broken down, it means that they were incorrect and I can now build new structures.

Cardinal rule: Treat others as you want to be treated, simple as that.

Oh, and praise the lord Jesus Christ of course.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Can you say "maxim?"

I don't think that negotiation necessarily means subservience, but rather the appearance of subservience with the purpose of meeting your own goal. For example, for people who negotiate people off buildings, it is not considered successful if the person jumps off.

The trick is letting the person jumping believe that they have won or achieved more of their goals than you have, when in reality you have achieved yours.

My Cardinal Rules:

-Believe in yourself and in your potential to be the change you want to see in the world (whether that's for one person, one thing, or a whole lot of people)

-Absolutely treat others as you want to be treated, and additionally do the best you can to look at the world from others' perspectives.

-Love other people. Even the ones you don't like, the guy that cuts you off in traffic, your family, friends, and SOs, even when it is really really hard to do it. The more good you put out there, the more good is in the world. Period.

Kyra said...

"What most people mean by the term greater good is their good. That you should do it for the greater good is that you should become subservient to their needs"

I completely agree with this statement. It's something that drives me bonkers on a regular basis - people justifying their argument because it's for the greater good, but really it's only for their own. GAH!

Thomas said...

I can't say I really believe in rules. There's not much room for growth in life if all you're doing is being obedient.

Thomas said...
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Anonymous said...

I learned that I can't have cardinal rules because fundamentally they never stick with me :)

a girl said...

I've probably thought about this for too long. It boils down to one cardinal rule for me: Smile.

Now, besides the obvious, I think smiling at inappropriate times can go so far...and generally speaking, MY happiness can sometimes hinge on pissing people off. =)