Spiritual Sundays

How to learn from the turkey?

How do we know what we know? There are traps built into any kind of knowledge gained from observation. Consider a turkey that is fed every day. Every single feeding will firm up the bird's belief that it is the general rule of life to be fed by friendly members of the human race. On the afternoon of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, something unexpected will happen to the turkey. It will have to change its belief system.

How can we figure out properties of the unknown (infinite) based on the known (finite)? What can a turkey learn about what is in store for it tomorrow from the events of yesterday? A lot, perhaps, but certainly a little less than it thinks, and it is just that "little less" that may make all the difference. What do we really know about GOD? Let's not fool ourselves; let's be honest.

(via nn taleb)