Fact: every living human being on the planet determines their prospective life-actions by functioning within a worldview. What is a worldview? A worldview can be defined as a framework of presuppositions (opinions/perspectives/assumptions). This framework is structured atop an individual’s personal faith because all analysis and evaluation of the world stems from the condition of the heart. Therefore, if everyone functions daily by viewing the world through a customized framework, they function daily by viewing the world through their personalized faith/beliefs as a completely natural expression of their intellectual and spiritual core/center. No one is exempt – not even the esteemed philosophers of the Enlightenment era who were determined to actualize utter autonomy, reason and objectification. It is impossible to separate ourselves from worldview and so, equally impossible to remain ultimately objective in our reasoning of the world and all that thus pertains.
A healthy worldview relies on truth. It could be a common consensus to state that a radical Islamic terrorist is not functioning within a healthy worldview. Why? The core of their spirituality determines a detrimental outlook concerning the world. A radical Islamic terrorist disregards life as precious and lusts for war. The condition of the heart lacks truth, and so, violent attacks upon fellow humans becomes the result. This is an obvious example, but because of the specified nuances of each person’s worldview, we are left with a difficult task of determination. How do you discover whether or not your own worldview is healthy?
You can test your worldview honestly in three ways to isolate the strengths and weaknesses of your conceptual framework. Analyze your worldview by submitting it to a rational, empirical and pragmatic inspection. Each test provides you with questions you should be asking yourself about how you view the world.
- Rationality requires coherence: “Do the propositions that make up your [worldview] agree with each other? Are they rationally coherent and non-contradictory?”
- Empiricism expects correspondence: “Does the worldview fit with reality, and is it capable of offering cogent explanations or interpretations of the totality of things?”
- Pragmatism assumes reasonable functionality: “Does the worldview work? Is it livable? Does it have ‘cash value’? Can it be applied helpfully to the most important areas of human life and experience? Does it have something meaningful to say about the fundamental human concerns and issues?” (Naugle, Worldview: The History of a Concept)
Once you examine your worldview honestly, it may be appropriate to change your perspective. Never cling to a faulty, unhealthy worldview.
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