An important division of humanity, or perhaps merely of thinkers, are those who believe in supernatural explanations, and those who are committed to natural causes. The person who believes that supernatural phenomena are present, when encountering something strange and unrecognizable, will be inclined to believe that the tools of science and reason will be of no use to understanding. They will be inclined to say, “our human minds are incapable of understanding this.” But without understanding, it is impossible to make a judgment on whether or not the thing is understandable. The only implication that is certain: the person inclined to supernatural explanations will not understand.
But given the same phenomenon, the mind committed to natural causes will only say, “I do not understand this, yet.” With the correct application of observation, hypothesis creation, experimentation and testing, this person may achieve understanding.
Nothing else is certain. Whether or not there are supernatural phenomena in the world is beside the point, and not something we can ever know for certain anyway. So there is no use in making judgments about their existence. But throughout human history, the supernaturally inclined investigators have figured out nothing of legitimate importance, because their disposition makes them intellectually impotent. The natural-cause inclined investigator, on the other hand, may often be frustrated and live a life without discovering anything of interest for humanity. But it is amongst this troupe that we find our true scientists and philosophers.
The supernatural vs. natural division is also a metaphor for another, more mundane attitude. Whenever a person is dealing with a problem, and says, “this problem is unsolvable,” without investigation, they are following the same habit as the supernaturally inclined.
What is teaching? What is excellent teaching? How can I craft my lessons, my chosen texts, the overture of a sixteen week class, to crack a layer of dogmatism in the minds of all my students? What questions, what philosophies, and what dynamic is needed to set three dozen minds on fire? How can that fire be made so bright, that they in turn spark the minds of everyone with whom they have a conversation? To despise anything that deadens the mind, and love all that awakens it? The “practical” teachers often say, “it cannot be done, and it is arrogant to think otherwise.”
Natural Causes 
Hi Professor Swanson,
I recently thought about you because my brother is considering joining the marines and I was explaining to him how marines are like a different breed. And then I remembered you. I came across your blog and I want to let you know that I have honestly enjoyed reading your thoughts. Please continue to post. Your blogs are forcing me to articulate my faith in a secular sort of way, which is good because I tend to come across deep thinkers that question me. But faith is what it is, it’s faith. There is a choice to believe. Perhaps I’ll respond to some of your intriguing posts in the near future, but for now, I have to get back to my homework. It’s on the Old Testament.
Your former student,
Elisa
Thank you for the note, Elisa.
And tell your brother to think carefully about the decision. If he’s not willing to give everything, it is not the place. You’re right: Marines are a different breed. The Marine Corps is part military force, part cult (in a non-religious sort of way, of course). I remember reading something that will always stick with me: “You join the Army, you join the Air Force, you join the Navy, but you BECOME a Marine.”
By the way, I’m reading a bit about Spinoza.
Interesting guy, isn’t he?