For the love of all that is random.

[Chad]

I going to use this as a dump for all that is random.

Kind of a Chad's Blog of everything.

I will start with a bunch of awesome quotes.

Happy Father's day Darth Vader sorry that my card is so late but thanks to a certain Dad I had to learn to write with my left hand.

I thought you idea to use my idea was a great idea.

I wish you were as productive as your rectum is.

Actually No, My post wasn't about you but if the shoe fits, feel free to lace the bitch up & wear it.

Apples are rubbish I hate apples.

It doesn't matter what it is automatically cool if it glows in the dark.

No matter how old I get I'm still going to mentally sing the ABC's to see which letter comes next.

I'm not trying to impress you, but I say Voldemart out loud.

Damaged people are dangerous because they know they can survive.

Don't judge me you can't handle half of what I've dealt with. There is a reason I do the things I do, there is a reason I am who I am.

In the end there doesn't have to be anyone who understands you... There just has to be someone who wants to.

If I only had one more day to study I could start studying one day later.

When someone yells stop I don't know if its in the name of love, its hammer time, or if I should collaborate and listen.

I don't always say something stupid but when I do I keep talking to make it worse.

Not sure liking a sad facebook post shows support or if it means I like there sadness.

This is either madness or brilliance
--Its remarkable how often those two traits coincide.

If I am ever on life support unplug me and then plug me back in to see if that works.

You know it seems to me that there is so much more to the world than the average eye is allowed to see. I believe if you look hard, there are more wonders then you could have dreamed of.

One small crack doesn't mean you are broken it means you were put to the test and didn't fall apart.

People should really stop expecting normal from me! We all know it's never going to happen.

Stop trying to press rewind it's life not a movie.

You can not cure crazy. You just have to beat it with a stick every now and then.

Everybody is a Genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

A smart person knows what to say. A wise person knows rather or not to say it.

A man should look for was is and not for what he thinks it should be.

Everything should be made as simple as possible but not simpler.

Instead of clean the house I just turned off the lights.

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

In a battle of wits I refuse to engage with unarmed person.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our way.

The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.

How many times do I have to tell you John? I always have a plane.

It's not that I am so smart I just stay with problems longer.

Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.

An intellectual is a person who's found one thing that's more interesting than
sex.

Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart.

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. (I like this quote however, I am not sure if I agree 100%)

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.

Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

It is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it... anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.

In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.

There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened.

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.

Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the drug store, but that's just peanuts to space.

I don't believe it. Prove it to me and I still won't believe it.

I think fish is nice, but then I think that rain is wet, so who am I to judge?

If somebody thinks they're a hedgehog, presumably you just give 'em a mirror and a few pictures of hedgehogs and tell them to sort it out for themselves.

He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.

The mere thought hadn't even begun to speculate about the merest possibility of crossing my mind.

The difficulty with this conversation is that it's very different from most of the ones I've had of late. Which, as I explained, have mostly been with trees.

I am not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens.

If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.

All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire.

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.

The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.

The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain.

No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.

All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don't accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept because you will gain one friend.

What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.

In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?

Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.

Love, and do what you like.

If we did not have rational souls, we would not be able to believe.

To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be forsaken by sin, not to forsake it.

My mind withdrew its thoughts from experience, extracting itself from the contradictory throng of sensuous images, that it might find out what that light was wherein it was bathed... And thus, with the flash of one hurried glance, it attained to the vision of That Which Is

That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.

In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.

Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.

In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.

I have not lost faith in God. I have moments of anger and protest. Sometimes I've been closer to him for that reason.

Faith is a passionate intuition.

Faith is spiritualized imagination.

Faith indeed tells what the senses do not tell, but not the contrary of what they see. It is above them and not contrary to them.

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.

My faith helps me overcome such negative emotions and find my equilibrium.

Faith... must be enforced by reason... when faith becomes blind it dies.

Nonviolence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article of my creed.

Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.

We are not supposed to be all equal. Let's just forget that. We are supposed to have equal rights under law. If we do that, we have done enough.

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.

I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.

The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.

Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.

He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.

If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?

The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. (or online articles on Wikipedia)

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.

A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.

Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil.

Justice means minding one's own business and not meddling with other men's concerns.

There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them.

A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.

Because philosophy arises from awe, a philosopher is bound in his way to be a lover of myths and poetic fables. Poets and philosophers are alike in being big with wonder.

All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.

The truth of our faith becomes a matter of ridicule among the infidels if any Catholic, not gifted with the necessary scientific learning, presents as dogma what scientific scrutiny shows to be false.

Wonder is the desire for knowledge.

The theologian considers sin mainly as an offence against God; the moral philosopher as contrary to reasonableness.

 

[Chad]

I really don't want to go to work today. I hate everything about my job besides the pay.
I have an agreement with my wife that I will sacrifice what I want out of a career for the 4 years she is in school so that we can make ends meet. I really do love my wife and its the only fuel that wakes me up every morning. However, I am running dangerously low.

So every-time I get a new crappy job I try to find all of the best qualities in that job. This give me motivation to go to work and try but it only last a few weeks at most. However, I have just finished 2 months at this job. I was hoping with time it would become easier and in a way it has. However, even with the job becoming more physically manageable I still hate it. I hate the lack of meaning the the feeling that I am losing myself and my standards.

I've talked to my wife and I should be able to let this job go start looking for a new one at the end of august. However, this challenge seem far to daunting for me at this time.

Well that is were I find myself this morning June 21, 2013.

 

[Cognisant]

If I am ever on life support unplug me and then plug me back in to see if that works.

That's so good it's going in my sig.

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.

I agree with that.
And thank God I'm an athiest or I would have killed you all by now.

Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

No that's orbit, flying is falling with style.

It is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it... anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.

Elections should work this way, don't ask me how.

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

Yep, life's one true goal, survival.

Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.

Pascal's wager is wrong, I dare you to refute me.

Edit: I know that's not exactly Pascal's wager but it's the same kind of fallacy.

I kind of wish it was, it would be an entertaining ultimatum.
Who do you fear more, God or me?

 

[Chad]

That's so good it's going in my sig.


I agree with that.
And thank God I'm an athiest or I would have killed you all by now.


No that's orbit, flying is falling with style.


Elections should work this way, don't ask me how.


Yep, life's one true goal, survival.


Pascal's wager is wrong, I dare you to refute me.

Edit: I know that's not exactly Pascal's wager but it's the same kind of fallacy.

I kind of wish it was, it would be an entertaining ultimatum.
Who do you fear more, God or me?

It is idead Pascal's wager word for word. I like the thought process however, I don't agree with it 100%. For one I believe God to be much less cruel then Pascal implies. Therefore being an atheist is not the end of it. IMO.

 

[SpiralHacker]

I think Christianity is moderately important. It influences many people in the world, is a part of history and contains some wisdom from the ancients.

 

[Chad]

Some of my favorite one liners.

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

We live in a society where pizza gets to your house before the police.

The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.

The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

True genius is knowing how to hide your sources well.

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea... does that mean that one enjoys it?

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of payments.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station..

Some people are like Slinkies ... not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs.

A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it.

I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.

Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR". What's my mother going to do?

A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Some people say "If you can't beat them, join them". I say "If you can't beat them, beat them", because they will be expecting you to join them, so you will have the element of surprise.

Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!

It's not the fall that kills you; it's the sudden stop at the end.

Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back.

He who smiles in a crisis has found someone to blame.

A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.

My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right.

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

Just remember...if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

My psychiatrist told me I was crazy and I said I want a second opinion. He said okay, you're ugly too.

Jesus loves you, but everyone else thinks you're an asshole.

I don't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die. (This may be a bit sexist but I laughed so hard the first time I heard it.)

Never hit a man with glasses. Hit him with a baseball bat.

There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away. (This one was for my wife)

When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

You are such a good friend that if we were on a sinking ship together and there was only one life jacket... I'd miss you heaps and think of you often.

I got in a fight one time with a really big guy, and he said, "I'm going to mop the floor with your face." I said, "You'll be sorry." He said, "Oh, yeah? Why?" I said, "Well, you won't be able to get into the corners very well."

Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?

With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.

To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

A bargain is something you don't need at a price you can't resist.

Some people hear voices.. Some see invisible people.. Others have no imagination whatsoever.

If winning isn't everything why do they keep score?

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!

A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it.

Whoever coined the phrase "Quiet as a mouse" has never stepped on one.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

After (M)onday and (T)uesday even the week says WTF !!

I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.

Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

Deja Vu - When you think you're doing something you've done before, it's because God thought it was so funny, he had to rewind it for his friends.

Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Keep the dream alive: Hit the snooze button.

Who was the first to see a cow and think "I wonder what will happen if I squeeze these dangly things and drink whatever comes out?"

According to a new survey, women say they feel more comfortable undressing in front of men than they do undressing in front of other women. They say that women are too judgmental, where, of course, men are just grateful.

If you can stay calm while all around you is chaos, then you probably haven't completely understood the situation.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

If you keep your feet firmly on the ground, you'll have trouble putting on your pants.

America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote.

See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time.

Isn't it odd the way everyone automatically assumes that the goo in soap dispensers is always soap? I like to fill mine with mustard, just to teach people a lesson in trust.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

By the time you learn the rules of life, you're too old to play the game.

Progress is made by lazy men looking for an easier way to do things.

Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.

We are all time travelers moving at the speed of exactly 60 minutes per hour

Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?

There are three kinds of people: The ones who learn by reading. The ones who learn by observation. And the rest of them who have to touch the fire to learn it's hot.

Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.

We have all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

The Miss Universe pageant is fixed. All the winners are from Earth.

Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot them?

Materialism: buying things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people that don't matter.

People tend to make rules for others and exceptions for themselves.

I have all the money I'll ever need - if I die by 4:00 p.m. today.

Hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance?

Join The Army, visit exotic places, meet strange people, then kill them.

A celebrity is someone who works hard all his life to become known and then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.

Why is it called Alcoholics ANONYMOUS when the first thing you do is stand up and say, 'My name is Chad and I am an alcoholic'?

Alcohol doesn't solve any problems...but then again, neither does milk.

I saw six men kicking and punching the mother-in-law. My neighbor said 'Are you going to help?' I said 'No, six should be enough.' (I would never do this)

1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. There are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin. (bad logic is so much fun)

Everything is edible, some things are only edible once.

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection? (I know the legal answer to this question but it is still a good question)

Only in America... do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

What is the most important thing to learn in chemistry?
Never lick the spoon.

Every day, man is making bigger and better fool-proof things, and every day, nature is making bigger and better fools. So far, I think nature is winning.

Women should not have children after 35. Really... 35 children are enough.

I'm a humble person, really. I'm actually much greater than I think I am.

The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts working the moment you are born, and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.

I hope I'm the last guy on earth -- I wanna see if all those women were lying to me.

More to come. I have to go eat now before my beautiful wife decides that I should no longer breath.

 

[Cognisant]

I think Christianity is moderately important. It influences many people in the world, is a part of history and contains some wisdom from the ancients.

Points one and two could apply to any popstar and regarding three I challange you to find any wisdom that is unique to and originated with Christianity, don't worry I'll wait.

It is idead Pascal's wager word for word. I like the thought process however, I don't agree with it 100%. For one I believe God to be much less cruel then Pascal implies. Therefore being an atheist is not the end of it. IMO.

There's two problems with Pascal's wager, firstly it's in reference to a specific god even though the same misguided reasoning is applicable to all gods and secondly even if it were merely about a higher power in the general sense what's the basis of his assumption that it wants to be worshiped, as I've explained before that if a god does existence the concealed nature of its existence would suggest that it wants us to doubt its existence, so maybe god prefers an atheist?

 

[BigApplePi]

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. (I like this quote however, I am not sure if I agree 100%)

Food, clothing and shelter are necessary. Those other things are enhancements to life.

 

[BigApplePi]

@Cognisant

There's two problems with Pascal's wager, firstly it's in reference to a specific god even though the same misguided reasoning is applicable to all gods and secondly even if it were merely about a higher power in the general sense what's the basis of his assumption that it wants to be worshiped, as I've explained before that if a god does existence the concealed nature of its existence would suggest that it wants us to doubt its existence, so maybe god prefers an atheist?

There is a 3rd problem with Pascal's Wager. If God does not exist and you spend your life as if He did, the loss in not finite because you have given the only life you have to the wrong cause. The ratio of life to wasting it (zero life) is infinity. This makes the Wager a neutral decision. (That's my idea and I don't know if anyone has published that.)

 

[BigApplePi]

@Chad

So every-time I get a new crappy job I try to find all of the best qualities in that job. This give me motivation to go to work and try but it only last a few weeks at most. However, I have just finished 2 months at this job. I was hoping with time it would become easier and in a way it has. However, even with the job becoming more physically manageable I still hate it. I hate the lack of meaning the the feeling that I am losing myself and my standards.

Your job* has meaning. You are a contributing member of society** and are trading your services for a wage you can use to enjoy things outside of your job.

*Even though I don't know what it is ... **unless you are a bank robber or a pick-pocket.

 

[SpiralHacker]

Points one and two could apply to any popstar and regarding three I challange you to find any wisdom that is unique to and originated with Christianity, don't worry I'll wait.

Christianity is significantly more important to history and the cultures of the world than a popstar.

 

[Cognisant]

More significant than any single popstar, which isn't surprising, how could one person compare to a religion thousands of years old, a better comparison would be to pop culture in general.

Or how about consumerism?

We're not having a pissing contest here, my point was that historical influence isn't a good measure of current relevance, if Christianity disappeared overnight it wouldn't affect the world half as much as if pop culture or consumerism did, indeed not even close.

Besides the original quote from Chad was about the existence of a god, not the cultural/historical impact of Christianity.

 

[Chad]

@Chad
Your job* has meaning. You are a contributing member of society** and are trading your services for a wage you can use to enjoy things outside of your job.

*Even though I don't know what it is ... **unless you are a bank robber or a pick-pocket.

Nope I work in a factory making plastic graduated stripets in the increments of 1ml, 2ml, 5ml, 10ml, 25ml, 50ml, and 100ml.

I actually thought I would enjoy seeing how these pipets were manufactured however having seen it the thrill was short lived.

 

[Chad]

Food, clothing and shelter are necessary. Those other things are enhancements to life.

I believe that is what the quote is trying to say as well unless I am misunderstanding the quote.

 

[Chad]

For a bunch of random quotes that I find interesting it weird how the only thing that people wish to discourse is Pascals Wager. I like the quote and pointing out short comings in his logic isn't going to change that.

I come to realize that perspective is the problem with this argument anyway and I have no ability to address that on a forum setting so I will leave it at that. I admit that the argument may not be 100% valid but logical it is.

This is one of my favorite logic ideas.

All Unicorns are Purple. I am a Unicorn. Therefore I am Purple.

I would like you to see your try to refute my perfect logic.

 

[The Gopher]

This is one of my favorite logic ideas.

All Unicorns are Purple. I am a Unicorn. Therefore I am Purple.

I would like you to see your try to refute my perfect logic.

Not all Unicorns are purple all the time. Therefore you may be purple right now but you may not be. Gees I thought this was common knowledge.

You may be born purple but, *painbrush* well see how long that lasts! Your logic may be perfect now but... There, blue unicorn!

(And yes I know what I'm doing)

 

[BigApplePi]

I love this one and burst out laughing.

1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. There are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin.

 

[Chad]

Not all Unicorns are purple all the time. Therefore you may be purple right now but you may not be. Gees I thought this was common knowledge.

You may be born purple but, *painbrush* well see how long that lasts! Your logic may be perfect now but... There, blue unicorn!

(And yes I know what I'm doing)

These are issues of validity however something can be both invalid and logic. Logic is just the structure of the argument and has nothing to do with truth or correctness of facts.

My argument may not reasonable or valid but logical it is.

 

[The Gopher]

These are issues of validity however something can be both invalid and logic. Logic is just the structure of the argument and has nothing to do with truth or correctness of facts.

My argument may not reasonable or valid but logical it is.

NAW are you trying to tell me all Unicorns aren't actually purple if you don't paint them?

Also I really like this one.

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

 

[BigApplePi]

Unicorns exist. They have one color. All Unicorns are Purple. I am a Unicorn. Therefore I am Purple.

One can take a long chain of logic and pick from that chain having solid links. But elsewhere in the chain, some links are broken.

 

[Chad]

One can take a long chain of logic and pick from that chain having solid links. But elsewhere in the chain, some links are broken.

You are miss understanding logic if you believe it has anything to do with truth.

Logic is about structure. A common set of rules that make all arguments equal.

My argument is false but not because my logicl is flawed but because my premisses are invalid leading to an invalid yet logical conclusion.

Isn't logic fun.

 

[BigApplePi]

You are miss understanding logic if you believe it has anything to do with truth.

Logic is about structure. A common set of rules that make all arguments equal.

My argument is false but not because my logicl is flawed but because my premisses are invalid leading to an invalid yet logical conclusion.

Isn't logic fun.

Structure it is. But at what point can we say the structure is built on a broken structural foundation? What can be said about a premise? Is it a non-entity or false in another world?

 

[Chad]

Logic is structure and basically it is if A=B and B=C then A=C that is logic. Its quite simple. Validity is another topic altogether but however validity deals with truth with is a value judgment and the more you get into that topic the farther you go away for structure which is the point and reason of formal logic. It is common structure that makes sure that everyone is playing the same game.

It matter nothing if the pieces are broken our false in nature. If they fit together they are logical.

This is why I find it funny why people assume that something is illogical just because they disagree with the conclusion. When most of the time they didn't even agree with the premises and the conclusion is logical sound based on the premises given.

Premises can not be logical or illogical because they have not structure to them. They are statements not organized reason.

You may have a logical argument for disagreeing with said premise however even they doesn't make the premise illogical. All it means is that your argument to disprove the primes statement is logical or structured soundly.

Like I said Logic is fun.

 

[BigApplePi]

Logic is structure and basically it is if A=B and B=C then A=C that is logic. Its quite simple. Validity is another topic altogether ... Like I said Logic is fun.

I agree. This is another topic:

We could say the first statement of the structure is the starting point = the premise. If we ask whether this premise is true or not, we are backing up the structure (going before the premise) and saying the premise is not the starting point.

If the premise is the starting point, we could say we are assuming it to be true. Thereafter a valid logic chain is all true. If we follow the logic according to the rules and reach a false statement, then we question the original premise. This is called, "Reduction to absurdity."

 

[Chad]

I agree. This is another topic:

We could say the first statement of the structure is the starting point = the premise. If we ask whether this premise is true or not, we are backing up the structure (going before the premise) and saying the premise is not the starting point.

If the premise is the starting point, we could say we are assuming it to be true. Thereafter a valid logic chain is all true. If we follow the logic according to the rules and reach a false statement, then we question the original premise. This is called, "Reduction to absurdity."

True, Thanks for the discourse. I mostly just wanted to present an argument that had been floating through my brain the last few days. Like I say it's all for the love of random.

 

[Chad]

Random connections can be fun.

Like

I find it interesting that the two top dairy producing states in the U.S. also have had the most serial killers per capita.

That would be Wisconsin and California if you didn't know.

My two of the wall (not logical) theories for this are:

There is too much methane in the air form the cows. This excess methane is thus causing madness which leads to the creation of murderous tendencies. Lets call this mad cow disease for lack of a better term.

Theory two involves mental conditioning and backwards reasoning. Due to the excess of Milk in the diet of those in these dairy rich lands they have a greater need to feed there children Cereal. While the majority of children are unaffected by the daily killing of cereal. Some of them get twisted by that thought of cereal killing. This twist becomes twisted and they don't know the difference between eating cereal for breakfast and going on serial killing sprees. Like I said it is very unlikely but it a theory none the less.

Seriously find any other correlation between the states of California and Wisconsin. Why are they to two places that bread crazy people in the U.S.

P.S. I know that there are other U.S. serial/mass murderers form other states however, California and Wisconsin take take the prize.

 

[AnnaC]

Theory two involves mental conditioning and backwards reasoning. Due to the excess of Milk in the diet of those in these dairy rich lands they have a greater need to feed there children Cereal. While the majority of children are unaffected by the daily killing of cereal. Some of them get twisted by that thought of cereal killing. This twist becomes twisted and they don't know the difference between eating cereal for breakfast and going on serial killing sprees. Like I said it is very unlikely but it a theory none the less.

Someone remind me not to eat my Cheerios tomorrow morning.

 

[Chad]

Someone remind me not to eat my Cheerios tomorrow morning.

Yes, do that.

 

[Chad]

Variety truly is the spice of life.

I believe it is also the key to understanding truth.

The easiest way to lose sight of the truth is to fallow dogma blindly no matter what that dogma might be. (including logic and reason).

A lie is really only twisted truths therefore they can not exist without the truth behind them they are twisting.

Therefore the more information you collect lies or truths the more you can connect the dotes and understand what facts behind the truths in every statement.

Therefore I try to absorb all information unbiasedly and then try to sort out the lies form the truths latter as I get a clearer picture of what it is I am looking at.

I understand that the lies outnumber the truths but even I lie can tell you something about the truth you may have missed before.

 

[Chad]

Here is a thought; what if MBTI is a broken system?

I don't mean it's fully broken or full dysfunctional. Most of us can see that there are interesting correlations between between MBTI and reality.

So if MBTI explains something about reality. What am I saying about the MBTI being broken?

Well actually it fails on two points.

1)It way too subjective and there are too many opposing ideas to explain the same phenomenon.

2)It necessitates that people examine themselves. The problem is that most people are not up to this challenge. (This includes myself).

Also looking for outside help to identify your Type is mostly unhelpful due to the first problem.

So how do you we fix this?

Okay, First we need research to help set up the rules that are consistence and not subjective.

Secondly there should be professionals that are trained in actually administering the tests and looking for the answers between the lines. (a psychologist might be skill to do this type of test)

Therefore you for go all the useless arguing and bickering about what someone type is or is not and you actually allow them to use the information gained to help improve there life.

P.S.

I still believe that there should be a trichotomy not dichotomy to the to the system. I believe it is both possible and common for someone to not match either of the extremes. In which case they may match some characteristics about two or more different types.

I understand that this makes a problem for the cognitive function theory. However, this could just mean the the cognitive function idea need reworked too. I don't know, these are just some of my ideas.

 

[walfin]

2)It necessitates that people examine themselves. The problem is that most people are not up to this challenge. (This includes myself).

Brain scans are the way forward.

 

[Chad]

Brain scans are the way forward.

This may work only if it can be proven. The theory sounds interesting lets wait and see if it works in practice.

 

[Chad]

Personal, Intentions are the foundation of morality.

However, personal intentions are almost hidden.

This guarantees the flaw in personal judgment.

This is the reason I hope to withhold my judgment of others.

 

[Chad]

I have enjoy my journey of self exploration on this forum. I have learned more about myself then anything else here.

My journey has been enlightened by many of you and dimmed by others.

I somehow managed to connect with many types here. Everyone seems to believe that I am similar to them.

To some I am INTP,
To others I am ENTP
and To others I am INFJ

I am everything to everyone.

Therefore I'm changing my tag to Mr. N since that is the only thing that everyone can agree on.

I concurs INTP Forum I concur.

 

[Chad]

I find it mildly amusing how others are so interested in my personality to not being INTP or ENTP.


So here is the skinny.

I believe that I am an N because the way my brain functions it looks for the random tie that binds situations together. I don't take anything at face value. Everything has a deeper meaning and the deeper meaning is my life passion and goal.

I believe that I am a T over F not because I don't have any feeling. I do feel. However most of the time my personal feeling are misplaced and it's the reason I put little faith in them. I try to understand others feeling and possibly my own as well. However, I find this rational as feeling are the bodies chemical response to different stimuli. If you can identify the feeling it makes it easier to identify the stimuli. I myself have some very complicated emotions and I have turned to the world a reason to identify the problems so that I can avoid the emotional over action that I dealt with often as a child.

As far as P and J go. I'm an observer by nature. This may be hard to see form the perspective of an forum observer. I do express my opinion openly and at first glace they appear as bull headed and stubborn assertions of truth. However this is far form true I very few solid opinions. Mostly, I just have a set of rules and principle that I use to guide my mind around the mess of information and data I collect on an almost daily bases. Mostly like I said before I just observe. I have yet to figure out all the mysteries of universe but that doesn't stop me form trying. Basically I trying to reach a conclusion but I am still missing to much data so at least for now I am the perceiver. Constantly observing and still looking for the answers.

Now for the E/I dichotomy. If you were to measure it on a sliding scale I would more then likely appear as an Introvert. I am married but I spend all my free time alone or with my wife. I don't socialize on any kind of normal bases. I am a huge DnD fanatic and it seems to be my one social outlet besides these forums of course (which are not really social). On the other hand I don't "need" isolation I chose it. Also I am not "afraid" of people or social interaction. I guess in a way I find these situation occasionally thrilling. I have a love and a passion for all that is unknown. Sometimes this includes human interaction and new experiences. These are actually signs of Extroversion. I am at best a very mild introvert.

So that leaves it down to two choices, INTP or ENTP.

Now you may disagree with me but that only your opinion.

 

[BigApplePi]

... it seems to be my one social outlet besides these forums of course (which are not really social).

I call these forums social "lite" as opposed to social heavy. They ARE social because people interaction exists.

Try this:

One could say if, for one, the impact is primarily internal, one is functioning as an introvert. If one seeks out stimulating others, one is functioning extroversially.

 

[Chad]

I call these forums social "lite" as opposed to social heavy. They ARE social because people interaction exists.

Try this:

One could say if, for one, the impact is primarily internal, one is functioning as an introvert. If one seeks out stimulating others, one is functioning extroversially.

Mostly my take too. Even my social nature is for personal interest not the interest of others. However, even this is not quite the introversion I have seen in others.

Kind of an introvert lite.

 

[Cherry Cola]

I find it mildly amusing how others are so interested in my personality to not being INTP or ENTP.

You're the one who brings it up only to ignore any advice you get, wait a while and then bring it up again.

Im not gonna bother pointing out why you are an idiot with no self insight this time.

 

[Chad]

You're the one who brings it up only to ignore any advice you get, wait a while and then bring it up again.

Im not gonna bother pointing out why you are an idiot with no self insight this time.

No need to to go into name calling. "Idiot"

I made my point and I have asked particular people that have a respected opinion "I.E" not you.

They gave me there opinion and I respected there response. On the other hand I never asked you and you still insist to know more than anyone else on the subject. Therefore you can call me an "Idiot" all you want but your opinion is completely unsolicited and ignored on that ground.

I have nothing against you personally. You seem to be well versed if nothing else but you opinions don't seem to fit the evidence of my life or anyone else you seem to type.

I know you are the great and powerful typer and you know more about me then I know about myself. However, for know I still say I believe I have the underhand and the understanding of chad. (I.E. Myself)

 

[Chad]

Wow personality Junky labeled me as and ENTP. This is quite weird because up until this point every test I have ever taken was said that I was INTP.

 

[Cherry Cola]

just sayin you seem like a really nice guy

but you drive me crazy >.<

 

[BigApplePi]

Guys. Just happened in on your conversation. What comes to my mind is regardless of what you guys are saying or how well it is said, or if it makes sense to me, it is social. Doesn't matter that it's happening on a forum. What you are saying does seem to affect the other person. Good luck on your success.

 

[Chad]

The INTP personality type makes up about 3-4% of the general population. INTPs’ dominant function is Introverted Thinking (Ti), which can be associated with high levels of focus (No), self-discipline (No), intentionality (Yes), independence (Yes), and intensity of thought (Yes). Such are the INTP’s signature strengths.


Although INTPs may not discover their intellectual side (i.e., their N) as early as INTJs do, once their auxiliary Ne is fully awakened, they take intellectual matters very seriously (Yes). They work to discern unifying themes and metaphysical truths that explain the underlying nature of things (Yes). Especially early in their intellectual journey, they feel they must develop a sufficient understanding of the whole before they can competently assess any of its constituent parts (Yes). Toward this end, INTPs may devour stacks of books on subjects like philosophy (Yes), religion (Yes), psychology (starting too), and evolutionary theory (Its on my list of things to do before I die).


When vacationing from their personal projects and investigations, INTPs, like ENTPs, can be quirky(Yes), witty(I believe so), and engaging(rarely). Since they extravert Intuition (Ne) and Feeling (Fe), they can have a certain charm (not that I know of), approachability (not as much as most people but not that unapproachable), and congeniality about them (Maybe). When discussing a topic that interests them, they can be stimulating conversationalists (I believe so), as their ever active minds can easily connect one topic to another (Absolutely), paving the way for a multifaceted and broad-ranging dialogue (Yes). If disinterested however, such as when forced to endure protracted small talk, they will quickly zone out or find a way of redirecting the conversation (sadly true). Despite appearing outwardly genuine and personable (Sometimes), INTPs are more interested in discussing ideas than the commonplace details of people’s lives (True). They enjoy discovering what makes people tick (Yes, very much so)—their motivations (Yes), interests (Yes), patterns (Yes), and propensities (Yes). This allows INTPs to further hone and refine their theories (Ti-Ne) of human nature (Fe) (Yes).



Like other introverts, INTPs can be anxious and self-conscious characters (Nope). It is not uncommon for them to display a handful of nervous habits (Yes), or at least some sign that they are not at ease (Maybe). They generally avoid direct eye contact (It hurts my head to look people in the eyes I don't know why), as though the gaze of their interlocutor may somehow harm them or render them incapable of thinking or communicating (Yes). INTPs often have enough insecurity about the discombobulated nature of their Ne expressions in the first place (?). Feeling that someone else is watching or critiquing them only makes it worse (I hate being critiqued). Like INFPs, INTPs can be slow to disclose the contents of their inner world (I believe I am quite open about my inner world people just don't care). As strange as it may seem to other types, INTPs often conceal some of their most dominant personality features, namely, their highly cerebral, rational side (I don't do this at all). It may only be a select few who are granted full access to this side of the INTP (i guess I am special). Others may only encounter INTPs’ inner world through encounters with their work, such as by reading something they have written. This may explain why many INTPs often take interest in writing, which provides an excellent forum for expressing themselves more fully and precisely (I like expressing myself through writing because I can get the full idea out without being interrupted however, writing is the a skill I have perfected).


Because of their reluctance to freely display the rational dimension of their personality (Not me), as well as the scattered nature of their Ne expressions (Yes), INTPs often feel their true level of knowledge and competence goes unnoticed by others (Yes). This is especially common in the workplace (Yes), where their lack of enthusiasm for organizational life (yes), combined with their quirky outward demeanor (Yes), may be mistaken for incompetence (Yes). As discussed in my post on INTP careers, INTPs can struggle to find satisfying jobs (Yes) within the system and are often happier functioning as freelancers or entrepreneurs (I believe this would be true about me but I haven't tried it yet).


When it comes to relationships, INTPs can also have a rough go of things (Yes). While they can use their Ne and Fe to attract potential mates (Few choices really), INTPs’ internal tug-of-war between their Ti and Fe (yes), between their independence (Ti) and the relationship (Fe) (Yes), can inspire a host of problems (Yes). This will be elaborated later in this profile in our discussion of INTPs’ Fe inferior function.
INTP Personality Type Development & Functional Stack

INTPs’ functional stack is composed of the following functions:
Dominant: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
Tertiary: Introverted Sensing (Si)
Inferior: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
INTPs’ personality type development can be broadly conceived as consisting of three phases:

Phase I (Childhood-20s)​

This phase is characterized by the emergence and differentiation of INTPs’ dominant function, Introverted Thinking (Ti). Early in life, INTPs often employ their Ti to focus on one or two pursuits (No I had many pursuits even at a young age). They may, for instance, use it to master video games (Yes), program computers (Dabbled), get good grades (Above average), or perfect their 5 K time (No, I hate sweating). Since Ti is a Judging function, INTPs tend to take themselves and their lives quite seriously (At times but not always). Even from a relatively young age, they are self-disciplined and goal-oriented (I have never been self-disciplined and my goals have always been abstract and maybe I could do this or that), striving for excellence in whatever captures their interests (To some degree).


While often described as pure skeptics (sometimes), this is not characteristic of many Phase I INTPs. While INTPs are naturally logical thinkers (Yes), they, like ISTPs, are not born skeptics (Yes). INTPs start with a given (T), and if clearly not unreasonable, will assume it true unless their Ne or Si suggest otherwise (functions which in this phase are not well developed) (True to some degree). INTJs, by contrast, whose first function is Intuition (Ni), do not start with a given, but approach things more openly, through the eyes of perception. They use their Intuition to discern whether or not something seems viable. Consequently, INTJs are often ahead of INTPs, as well as most other types, when it comes to formulating their own personalized worldview.

Phase II (Late teens-30s)​

Once their dominant Ti reaches a certain level of consciousness and differentiation, INTPs’ inferior function, Extraverted Feeling (Fe), enters the picture and begins to play a more influential role. INTPs are not immune from the dominant-inferior wrestlings described in our Introduction, making this phase as challenging for them as it is for other types.


Phase II INTPs also show increasing use and development of their auxiliary function, Extraverted Intuition (this can also begin in Phase I for some INTPs). During this phase, INTPs often develop a stronger interest in intellectual and philosophical endeavors (Yes I started getting interested in Philosophy in College), poised to see and understand “the big picture.” They also become more skeptical toward certain Ti conclusions they made in Phase I (This is also true for me). Developing their Ne involves an opening of prior judgments to allow an influx of new information (Yes). But since Ne is extraverted and expansive, INTPs must explore a breadth of ideas before they feel confident about who they are and what they believe (Yes). Thus, Phase II INTPs may find it much easier to identify what they don’t believe than what they do believe (To some degree). Many will struggle with nihilism and relativism (I try to avoid this trap), worried that they may never find absolute truth (This would be true if I didn't change my definition of absolute truth). It can therefore take INTPs a great deal of time, even well into their thirties, to discern what they believe about the world and about themselves (To some degree I am still going through this.), let alone figure out what they should be doing (This is a problem for me because my wife wants stability in our life and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up). Unfortunately, societal pressures and expectations often push Phase II INTPs (as well as other types) into relationships or careers well before they are ready (Not yet but I am still fighting this).


Phase II INTPs may also begin to tap into their tertiary function, Introverted Sensing (Si). They use their Si to recall past experiences and acquired wisdom (Some believe I have some good wisdom I am at least trying to gain more). This prevents them from having to retread paths they have already explored in the past (Yes, I would say that I a great way to say it).


The rest of this doesn't apply yet because I am only 28 right now.

Phase III (30s, 40s, & Beyond)​

If all goes well and they are fortunate enough to enter Phase III, INTPs become increasingly aware of the insidious ways of their inferior Fe. As they become more aware of their inferior and learn to function more authentically as INTPs, they experience greater balance between their Ti and Fe. They learn that integrating their Fe happens naturally and indirectly as they go about authentically using their Ti, Ne, and Si. As they cultivate conditions that support their natural strengths, Phase III INTPs come to experience a heightened sense of peace, wholeness, and satisfaction.

INTPs’ Dominant Function: Introverted Thinking (Ti)

To understand INTPs, or other IP types, it is necessary to recognize the full implications of their dominant function, Ti, being a Judging function. I discuss this issue in my post, Rethinking Judging and Perceiving in IPs & IJs. In short, I suggest that INTPs are best understood as predominant Judgers and display many characteristics of EJs, only that these behaviors are directed inwardly or toward themselves (I don't believe this relates to my personality).
Ti involves the application of logic and reason for the sake of understanding a given situation (Yes), system (Yes), or problem (Yes). INTPs use Ti to bring structure and order to their inner world (I guess), granting them a strong sense of inner control (My thoughts are controlled and I want self control but I don't always have it). Inwardly, INTPs are highly self-disciplined (I try to be), working to effectively manage their thoughts and their lives (Again I try). The disciplined nature of their Ti compels INTPs to frame many things as a goal or challenge (Yes, I do this at times). These challenges may be physical (e.g., trying to achieve an ideal state of health or fitness) (I care very little about this), intellectual (Yes this is important to me), practical (Yes), psychoemotional (e.g., becoming self-actualized) (Yes), or later in their development, interpersonal (e.g., “perfecting” a relationship or becoming a skilled lover) (To some extent). In order to succeed in these personal challenges, INTPs are apt to impose rules on themselves (Yes, I have posted my personal rules before). However, because of the wayward influence of their auxiliary Ne, they commonly end up breaking or sabotaging them (Yes this happens form time to time, Like I wrote in my Principles post I don't always fallow my rules though I do try very hard to keep them).


INTPs are also less interested in working with facts than with ideas (Ideas are what I am trying to generate Ideas and consent to tie everything together). Jung writes: “His ideas have their origin not in objective data, but in his subjective foundation.(I can relate)” INTPs are constantly digging into the background of their own thoughts in order to better understand their origins and to ensure their thinking is founded on solid reasoning (Yes). They see it pointless to try to build theories on a dubious conceptual platform (Yes but my idea of dubious may not match everyone else's), making them slower than Te types to rush into experiments to discover more “facts.” (True)


INTPs often find it easier to identify inconsistencies or logical shortcomings (Yes)—to assert what is not true (Yes)—than to identify and confidently assert what is true (Yes, I try to identify truths however, untruth is far easier to identify. My wife gets upset at me all the time because I can tell by what she is saying if she is lying or exaggerating and I call her out on it). They can quickly locate inconsistencies or logical shortcomings in a given theory or argument (Yes). They excel when it comes to identifying exceptions or imagining scenarios in which the proposed explanation could breakdown (Yes). Due to their sensitivity to theoretical exceptions, they can be quick to throw theories and start from scratch (Yes). INTJs, by contrast, seem less deterred by ostensible exceptions, perhaps feeling that they will eventually be explained or otherwise rectified.


When functioning constructively, INTPs, like INFPs, often employ a trial-and-error sort of approach to building their theories and ideas (Yes). INTPs start with a given (Ti) and then use their auxiliary Ne to explore various connections and possibilities (Yes). They also integrate past experiences and acquired knowledge through their tertiary Si (Yes) It is usually only after years of toying with ideas that something resembling a systematic and coherent theory may start to emerge (I haven't reach this stage yet, most of my theory very murky at best right now).


We can also compare and contrast Ti with Fi. IFPs generally take up moral, artistic, personal, or humanitarian concerns (Fi) before logical or intellectual ones (Ti) (My concerns are almost all intellectual even my interest in morality in ethics are truly just off shoots of my academic interest human nature) . They judge in terms of good and bad, love and hate, like and dislike. Conversely, for INTPs, things must first pass the test of reason (Yes, I still use moral/taste judgment but only if it make since to me to do so). They think less in terms of like and dislike than they do of likely and unlikely (Yes, to some extent for my food/drinks would be the exception to that rule), logical and illogical (Yes, natural). This is why INTPs generally prefer working with ideas and concepts rather than more subjective, taste-oriented matters like the arts (Ya, I am not really in to making art however, I like to look/hear/sense art)

INTPs’ Auxiliary Function: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

INTPs use Extraverted Intuition (Ne) as their auxiliary function. Ne can function either perceptively or expressively (I am still unaware what he means by this). The verbal expression of Ne amounts to something like “brainstorming aloud.(I have been know to do this)” When orating, INTPs may not always seem to “have a point (Absolutely)” as they haphazardly drift from one idea to the next. Even ideas that seem inwardly logical and sensible INTPs may suddenly sound incoherent when they attempt to convey them through their Ne (This happens to me many times).


In its receptive role, Ne prompts INTPs to gather information (Yes the more information I have the more connections I can make). Ne does not merely gather sensory information as Se does. Rather, it goes beyond or looks behind sense data (Yes, I call this looking for the meaning behind the data), allowing INTPs to discern otherwise hidden patterns (Yes), possibilities (Yes), and potentials (Yes, I am a hopeless optimist there is always potential in any situation). Their Ne is constantly scanning for relationships or patterns within a pool of facts (Yes, this is the web of ideas I mentioned before), ideas or experiences (Yes, on both accounts). INTPs commonly use this receptive side of their Ne in activities such as reading (Yes), researching (yes), and conversation (Yes). They enjoy asking questions that allow them to gain insight or knowledge from others (Yes, I love learning things about people it helps my improve my theories about human nature), making INTPs good facilitators of conversation (I believe so).


INTPs may also use their Ne to sniff out intriguing possibilities (I love new thing and new possibilities). They commonly enjoy and assume the role of wanderer or seeker (Yep), rarely knowing in advance exactly what they are seeking (As an example of this my wife just gave me, When every we go out she has a plan and I always mess up her plans because I am the driver. I change mine and her plans several time even if the trip was suppose to be as simple as getting milk at the store).


Ne also confers an open-mindedness, helping INTPs see truth on both sides of an issue without forming unwarranted judgments or premature conclusions (I believe that there is truth in every idea however, both sides are usually just misunderstanding the wishes of the other side). More specifically, their Ne can be seen as contributing to their openness to alternative or Bohemian lifestyles (Like I said before, I really consider becoming a Monk at one time). INTPs are those most likely to suddenly become vegetarians, join a commune, or decide to live out of the back of a van (I have never done any of these and I don't see it happening right now but my mind changes often). They are drawn to the idea and challenges of an unconventional lifestyle (I really do enjoy the challenges presented by unconventional lifestyles one consideration I am still planing on doing is living on some land with a windmill and solar panels and a green house. So that I give live off what I have without any need for the outside world unless I chose).


Like other NPs, INTPs often have a love-hate relationship with their Ne. They love the fact that it helps them remain open-minded and grasp the bigger picture. But living with Ne also has its challenges. For one, it can make it difficult for INTPs to arrive at firm conclusions or make important decisions. It often seems that at the very moment they are feeling good about a given conclusion or decision, their Ne steps in and causes them to start doubting it again (Yes). This has obvious implications for INTPs who are trying to find their niche in the world. This can leave them feeling discouraged and restless (At times), worried that they may never find what they are looking for (Some times). They may feel frustrated by their seeming lack of progress toward anything substantial (I am here right now). The fact is that INTPs desperately want to produce something of lasting worth or value (I have this need), but they also want to ensure they get it right (Well, Yes greatness isn't worth it if you are great for getting it wrong). They don’t want to leave any stone unturned before arriving at a conclusion (True). While INTPs typically enjoy this quest for truth, there comes a point when they begin to feel the pressures of life impinging on them (Yes, it is a struggle). Questions about careers and relationships loom large as they enter their late twenties and thirties (Yes I am here right now). This can be frustrating to INTPs as they feel like life is requiring them to make decisions long before they are ready (Maybe this is it). As is true of all IN types, they feel that life would be far better if they weren’t forced to consider practical concerns (Yes).
INTPs’ Tertiary Function: Introverted Sensing (Si)

Unlike Ne (or Se), INTPs’ tertiary function, Introverted Sensing (Si), is a conservative function. It involves an attachment to past experiences and past precedent (Yes I have these to some extent)—to the routine, familiar, and predictable. Types with Si in their functional stack, including INTPs, tend to eat a fairly routine or consistent diet, “eating to live” rather than “living to eat.”(This isn't true about me, I don't live to eat but I love to try anything new and I hate bland food) Si types are not only conservative with regard to their diet, but with respect to the material world in general (I don't care about stuff that much if I think it cool then I get it if not then I don't really care). They tend to be savers rather than spenders (No, I am a spender), seeing excessive material consumption as unnecessary (I like having somethings however I am not a pact rat and I don't get to attached to things), or perhaps even immoral (I don't really feel this either).


Like other Si types, INTPs also have a diminished need for novel physical pleasures, lavish surroundings, or material comforts (I like these things for a distance however I don't "need" them). They are minimalists to the core, relatively unconcerned with their physical surroundings (This is going to far, for my personality I don't really care about my physical surrounding unless of course it involves my interests and then I love to collect things).


An often overlooked role of Si is its perception of internal bodily sensations—the body as felt and experienced from within. Perhaps more than any other function, it provides access to the raw and basic sense of “being” that exists apart from thought or outward stimuli. Historically, Eastern philosophical and religious traditions have done a much better job exploring this dimension than those of the West. This feature of Si is brought to the fore during activities requiring close attention to one’s internal bodily state, such as yoga, Tai-Chi, meditation, or various relaxation techniques (I really do use relaxation techniques much though maybe I should). INTPs interested in exploring this element of Si may find great delight and benefit from these sorts of practices. They are especially useful in developing the body awareness necessary to relax and control anxiety.


INTP's Fourth / Function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

For those unfamiliar with the powerful influence of the inferior function on personality, as well as common strategies for dealing with it, I strongly encourage you to explore my post, Understanding the Inferior Function.
As is true of other types, INTPs can be easily blinded to the degree to which their inferior function impacts their decisions and behavior. As discussed in my INTP careers post, INTPs may be enticed by their inferior function, Extraverted Feeling (Fe), to pursue careers for which they are ill-suited. Or, in INTPs’ relationships, they might pair with EFJ types in attempt to readily obtain, even if unwittingly, what they are striving to find in themselves (i.e., Fe). In order to avoid be subconsciously controlled by their inferior function, INTPs seeking self-knowledge and Personal Growth must work to understand the ways in which their inferior Fe manifests in their personality.
Harmony vs. Helping

In a group setting, INTPs, like ISTPs, want everyone to feel included and treated with fairness and respect (Yes). While not as warm and effusive as FJ types, INTPs are concerned with others’ feelings and try to avoid hurting or offending them (Yes, I try and fail miserably at this). Like FJ types, INTPs do what it takes to maintain a basic level of harmony in their immediate circumstances (Yes). Unlike FJs, however, they are generally slow to go out of their way to help others (at least not in a direct, hands-on way) (Sadly, so I don't enjoy this aspect of myself but I realize that I am not as helpful to people as I should be even people I should do care about). Most INTPs forgo community service (I have never done this with out being pushed) and do not invest extensive time or energy into helping others (True). This is particularly true when under stress (Yes). If burdened by too many demands and without sufficient time to themselves, INTPs’ willingness to help others is one of the first things to go (This is ture for myself).


Reluctance to Extravert Judgment
Because of their Fe’s concern for maintaining external harmony, INTPs can be slow to express their judgments for fear that their ideas will be disturbing to others (In real life this is true for me however, I am okay with expressing my opinions online were no one knows me). For instance, they may want to explain how human mating practices are primarily a product of evolutionary pressures. But if they suspect that even one person may take offense to such an explanation, they may withhold it to avoid introducing disharmony. (To some degree, however I have also been know to say socially inappropriate things at the most in opportune time too)


INTPs may also avoid extraverting their judgments by way of their Fe because of concerns about their ability to effectively articulate them (Some times), fearing that they will be perceived as less intelligent than they really are (Some times, I can be very self conscious about my intellect). Hence, their reluctance to self-express relates not only to a concern for others, but also to their own fears (Yes), insecurities (Yes), and ego (Yes). It can therefore take a great deal of courage for INTPs to assert themselves, particularly when discussing controversial or otherwise uncomfortable issues (This has changed over time and I am more comfortable now then I use to be). INTJs, in contrast, whose extraverted Judging function (Te) is in the auxiliary position, seem to have little problem in this regard.


Because of their difficulty with direct self-expression, INTPs are prone to making sudden executive decisions without any prior communication (Sometimes). Others may be left feeling incredulous as to why the INTP had not thought to discuss the issue with them first (This has came up in my marriage several times I have worked to control this to a great extent) INTPs may also exhibit passive-aggressive forms of behavior (That would be how my wife describes my argument style), such as intentionally staying late at the office to eschew or resist domestic expectations(Hmm). INTPs can resemble IFP types in this regard, who have a similar propensity for acting passive-aggressively rather than expressing their concerns more directly (Some times however this is also a area were I have had some experience in improvements).


Convergent Truth
As I’ve written elsewhere, the inferior function can be understood to represent the ultimate goal or attractor point of the personal growth. It is what motivates and draws us forward. For INTPs, this attractor point is the promise of convergent truth. For INTPs, Fe, the final function of their stack, represents this place of convergent truth. This may involve finding the right theory, career niche, and/or relationship. Once INTPs feel confident that they have reached a place of convergent truth, they feel more complete and are compelled to share their findings with others.
Desire to Teach/Enlighten Others (I can relate however I haven't found that place yet, I am still seeking this truth, However, I do enjoy sharing what I have already learned)


Like FJs, INTPs like the idea of teaching others (I like the idea of it however, in practice I am not sure how well I would do at this). INTPs strive to discover knowledge or wisdom they can use to enlighten the world (Yes, absolutely). But as we’ve seen, INTPs can struggle when it comes to directly expressing their judgments (Sometimes). They are more comfortable exchanging ideas by way of their auxiliary Ne than they are in delivering Fe monologues (absolutely). INTPs can also become impatient with those who are slow to understand or embrace their ideas (I can be).They often expect others to learn as quickly and independently as they do (I have learned to not expect myself out of others but the feeling are still there). For these reasons, INTPs are often ill-suited for teaching (Like I mentioned before) (with the possible exception of college/university professorship) and better off sharing their insights less directly, such as through writing. (I have thought of this too)


Desire for Affirmation/Validation
Fe involves making connections between one’s own emotions and those of others. When a successful connection occurs, it results in a sense of validation, of being valued and understood (I love to be understood but its a feeling I rarely achieve). While INTPs can do at fair job at reading others’ emotions and are cognitively aware of the appropriate social response (Yes, aware of the the response), they often do not “feel” what others are feeling (My feelings are disproportionate compared with others I know well). Despite this difficulty in connecting with others on a feeling level, their Fe still desires the same sense of affirmation and validation that FJs readily receive when engaging with people (True). This need for affirmation can be seen as a motivating force behind INTPs’ desire for achievement. It is why many INTPs score high as Enneagram Threes (3) and display certain narcissistic tendencies (Hmm). Personally, I never understood my desire to write for a popular audience (rather than an academic one) until I recognized that my Fe was pushing for widespread affirmation. (hmm)



Because INTPs, wittingly or not, rely on others for affirmation, they may often feel they cannot live without at least one other person in their lives (Yes, this is why I am married). At other times, they can feel incredibly independent (Ti). Especially when their work is going well, they may feel they don’t really need other people (I felt like this often I college). If they manage to completely isolate themselves from others, they will soon begin to feel that something important is missing from their lives. This prompts them to reinitiate contact with others, at least until they feel compelled to assert their independence again (Yep). This cycle of alternating between needing and devaluing others is common among INTPs and narcissists alike (Hmm).


Slippery, All-or-Nothing Emotions
Despite the inferior position of their Fe, INTPs are not emotionless robots (True). Rather, as is typically the case with the inferior, there is an all-or-nothing character to their Fe (Yes). INTPs’ emotions seem to have a mind of their own (I have no control over how I feel), coming and going as they please (true). Consequently, INTPs often feel awkward or inept in emotional situations(Yes), knowing that they cannot readily summon the situationally-appropriate emotions (Yes).


As mentioned previously, INTPs are usually cognitively aware of what emotions are appropriate for a given situation (usually I would agree), but without experiencing them directly, they can sound clumsy or mechanical in their expressions (My wife said's I can all the say the right words but my tone is like Eror form Winney the Pooh) . This can be difficult for their romantic partners, particularly for FJ types, since FJs desire a sense of authentic emotional communion. While INTPs may experience strong feelings for their partners while away from them (Yes), they may not experience those emotions or may have trouble communicating them while together (Yes).


For most INTPs, their Fe is rather naive and childlike. They may, for instance, be easily moved by cheesy romantic comedies or sappy love songs (not really), anything that unconsciously incites their Fe emotions. This can also make INTPs easy targets for love-at-first-sight sorts of infatuation (Yep, I have had my case of this several times in high school and college however, lucky for me it was never returned). They are particularly susceptible to being wooed by Feeling types (to some degree), who can bypass their typical channels of logic and directly appeal to INTPs’ less conscious Fe. (hmm, at the same time long exposure to F types can be very annoying too, IMO)


While INTPs struggle to directly summon or contact their emotions, they can readily override or detach from them (Yes), almost functioning as though they didn’t exist (Almost). Consequently, INTPs may not consciously struggle with the same degree of guilt, regret, or shame as other types (feel these form time to time but they are fleeting at best). Others may be surprised how quickly INTPs can seemingly resume “business as usual”(Yep) after what most would consider tragic or traumatic circumstances.

 

[Chad]

The ENTP personality type is one of sixteen types. ENTPs are versatile (Yes), open-minded (Sometimes), and restless (?). Easily bored (Yes), they are constantly toying with new ideas and scanning for possibilities (Yes). Because of their insatiable thirst for novelty (Yes), their interests can seem limitless (Yes).


As is true of ENFPs, ENTPs’ minds move at a frenetic pace (Absolutely), contributing to restlessness (I guess), anxiousness (Sometimes), and erratic sleeping patterns (most definitely). Not only are they constantly scanning for new possibilities (Yes), but also generating new ideas and associations (Yes). Moreover, ENTPs enjoy sharing and exchanging their ideas with others (Sometimes). Considering how their minds are drawn in so many different directions (Yes), it is no wonder that ENTPs can seem restless (Yes), scattered (Yes), distractible (Yes), and, rightly or not, are commonly diagnosed with ADD or ADHD (I have been diagnosed as ADHD).


Unlike ENTJs or other types with a dominant Judging function, ENTPs do not carefully screen and filter incoming information (Maybe). They are truly among the most open-minded of all types when it comes to absorbing ideas from without (Yes). However, just because they are permeable to new information does not mean they are quick to accept it as true (Yes). As ENTPs ingest ideas over time (Yes), they gradually develop, even if somewhat passively , their own theories about the world and human nature (Yes, My theories are truly my own). When these theories don’t square with conventional thinking, which is often the case (Yes), they grow increasingly skeptical and critical of majority viewpoints (Yes). So despite their status as Extraverts, ENTPs can resemble INT types with regard to their skepticism and unconventional thinking (Yes this is one reason why I believe I am INTP).


When engrossed in their dominant function, Extraverted Intuition (Ne), ENTPs are not highly intentional or agenda-driven (their only agenda might be one of avoiding boredom) (Exactly). Hence, they may not be as consciously driven or obsessed with hammering down truth as some INTPs are (I wouldn't go that far). Nonetheless, many ENTPs, especially those who have developed their auxiliary function, Introverted Thinking (Ti), come to recognize their penchant for philosophizing (Yes). Like INTPs, they enjoy exploring unifying patterns and broad metaphysical speculations (Yes). Despite these propensities, they seem less apt to develop an exclusive focus on intellectual pursuits (I think my focus is nearly exclusive to intellectual/Psodo-Intellectuals pursuits). As Extraverts, they can be reluctant to focus on any singular pursuit (Yes), preferring to distribute their energies across different hobbies and interests (Yes).


ENTPs’ tertiary function, Extraverted Feeling (Fe), is a strong interpersonal function. This, along with their verbose Ne, contributes to ENTPs’ love for engaging with others possessing similar interests (I don't do this per say). Despite their tendency toward restlessness and distractibility, ENTPs can focus when partaking in stimulating discussions or activities (Yes to some degree at least). Like INTPs, they are more interested in discussing ideas than engaging in small talk (Yes). Their Ne, Ti, and Fe confer an interest in analyzing what makes people tick (Yes)—their motivations (Yes), interests (Yes), patterns (Yes), and propensities (Yes). Through their relationships, ENTPs sharpen their theories of human nature and enjoy themselves along the way (Yes).


When it comes to schooling, the degree to which ENTPs feel engaged depends largely on the circumstances (Or the subject but yes). Like other NTs, they generally excel in math and science (Yes). But as dominant Intuitives, they tend to have broad scholastic interests that extend into the arts and humanities (I was in marching band and I love history but that would by the extent of this). Their inferior function, Introverted Sensing (Si), may also contribute to an interest in history (Yes). As abstract learners, ENTPs are more apt to enjoy traditional schooling than ESTPs are (Yes I enjoyed school more than most INTPs on here). Teachers often appreciate their intelligence (Yes), creativity (Yes), and genuine intellectual curiosity (Yes). However, if the instructor or coursework fails to be stimulating, they can quickly become bored, restless (Yes), and tuned out (Sometimes). ENTPs are also notorious for procrastinating too long (Yes), sometimes producing work that fails to reflect their true capabilities (Maybe).


ENTPs are often better at finding their place among people (Fe) (Not really) than they are at identifying an ideal job in the system (Te) (Yes). Their Ne (as well as their lack of Te) can make ENTPs reluctant to work within highly structured systems or organizations (I work at a factory and it is hell on earth for me). Unfortunately, the modern working world seems primarily suited for those with Te in their functional stack (especially TJ types) (True this sucks for me). Rife with rules, policies, and regulations, nearly all professions, as well as academic and research institutions, have become Te-laden in their methods and operations. Consequently, ENTPs often struggle to find jobs and careers that allow them to function authentically as ENTPs (Yes).


Career-wise, ENTPs are best suited for working with people and ideas (Yes). Since many ENTPs are effective writers and orators, they often do well as journalists, writers, or editors. (I would love to do this but I don't have the skills or the patience for it) While apt to grow weary of the increasing systematization and bureaucracy of the modern education system, ENTPs may also enjoy teaching (I have thought of it but I don't know if I could do it well). ENTPs with religious affiliations may function as missionaries, pastors, or ministers (thought of it), although their knack for deviating from conventional dogmas and traditions may precipitate problems (This is why I decided against this path). ENTPs may also enjoy work as actors, mediators, diplomats, or entrepreneurs (I am thinking the entrepreneur may be worth it).
ENTP Personality Type Development & Functional Stack

ENTPs’ functional stack is composed of the following functions:
Dominant: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
Auxiliary: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Tertiary: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Inferior: Introverted Sensing (Si)
ENTPs’ type development can be roughly divided according to three phases:

Phase I (Childhood-20s)​

Extending from childhood to early adulthood, Phase I involves the emergence and differentiation of the ENTPs’ dominant function, Extraverted Intuition (Ne). While ENTPs are generally curious and open-minded throughout their lives, this is especially pronounced during this phase of their development (Yes, My favorite phase as a child was always "Why?"). Beyond the requirements of schooling, Phase I ENTPs are free to sit back and absorb the world without undue worry or concern (Yes I miss childhood). This allows their Ne to make all sorts of connections and associations, which can eventually coalesce into a coherent worldview (to some degree this is true for me).

Phase II (20s-30s)​

Once the dominant function reaches a certain threshold of strength and dominance, ENTPs’ inferior function, Introverted Sensing (Si), enters the picture and begins to play a more influential and mischievous role. This can be confusing because the inferior is not next in line for development in the functional stack, but the inferior’s undue influence derives from its bipolar relationship with the dominant function. Unfortunately, the inferior’s influence peaks in Phase II of type development, which happens to be the same time people are making life-altering decisions about their careers and relationships. We discuss ENTPs’ inferior-function related issues later in this profile. (I really don't know what this is suppose to mean)


In addition to the increasing presence and influence of Si, Phase II ENTPs are also developing their auxiliary function, Introverted Thinking (Ti). Ti brings greater order and clarity to ENTPs’ ideas, worldview, and identity. As ENTPs develop and utilize their Ti, they may also become more serious, focused, and driven (I am none of these nor have I every been).

​

Phase III (30s, 40s, & Beyond)
​

(Wouldn't apply to me yet because I am only 28) If fortunate enough to enter Phase III, ENTPs become increasingly aware of the insidious ways of their inferior Si. As they become more aware of their inferior and learn to function more authentically as ENTPs, they experience greater balance between their Ne and Si. They discover that integrating their Si happens naturally and indirectly as they go about authentically using their Ne and Ti. As they cultivate conditions that support their natural strengths, they come to experience a heightened sense of peace, wholeness, and satisfaction.
ENTPs’ Dominant Function: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)

As described in my post, Rethinking Judging & Perceiving, EPs are really “purer” Perceivers than IPs are (I am a natural perceiver). Not only do EPs display the outer characteristics commonly associated with Perceiving (e.g., spontaneous (Yes), easygoing (Yes), adaptable (Yes), receptive (Maybe)), but their dominant function (Ne or Se) is also a Perceiving function.


Extraverted Intuition (Ne) is a novelty-seeking function (Yes). At first glance, Se and Ne types may seem fairly similar (such conflation can be seen, for instance, in the Enneagram Seven), since both ESPs and ENPs can be outwardly active (No), energetic (a bit), and playful (Yes). Ne differs from Se, however, in that it is more concerned with ideas (Yes), connections (Absolutely), and possibilities (Yes) than it is with novel sensations or material goods (Yes).


Extraverted Intuition can function either perceptively or expressively. The verbal expression of Ne amounts to something like “brainstorming aloud.” (Not really my thing) Although typically not to the same extent as ENFPs, when orating aloud, ENTPs may not always seem to “have a point,”(If we are talking about having an actual conversation and not talking to myself aloud then yes) quickly bouncing from one idea to the next (Yes). In many cases, “the point” is for ENTPs to find their way to a judgment (Not really), but they must first explore the options by way of their Ne (It more just about exploration for me if I get to a conclusion/judgment then that is just a side product). While others may distrust the seemingly arbitrary or haphazard ways of Ne, ENTPs realize its value (Yes), recognizing that in time, truth or wisdom will reveal itself (Yes). ENTPs’ primary job then, is to employ and express their Ne (Yes), trusting that it will lead them in the right direction (Yes). With that said, some ENTPs are much more cogent and streamlined in their expressions than others (I would be less streamlined). Many ENTPs learn to develop and express themselves via their tertiary function, Extraverted Feeling (Fe) (No), which is not at all random, but more direct and coherent (I have trouble with this).


Ne also works receptively, gathering information from without (Yes). Unlike Se, it does not gather overt information, but goes beyond or looks behind sensory data (Yes, I look for the mean or the reason not just the perception of what is there). It is what allows ENTPs to discern otherwise hidden patterns (Yes), possibilities (Yes), and potentials (Yes). Ne is constantly scanning for new connections and patterns (Yes). They often employ this receptive side of their Ne in activities like reading (Yes), watching movies (Yes), and conversing with others (Yes).


Because it is an extraverted function, Ne is more divergent (Yes), extensive (Yes), and open-ended (Yes) than Introverted Intuition (Ni). Ni is more intensive and convergent, conferring a greater sense of conviction and closure. Once Ni has done its work, INJs are apt to feel there is a single correct solution. Ne, by contrast, is disposed to multiplying rather than reducing the number of possible options or solutions (Absolutely). Only through use of their auxiliary Ti can ENTPs move toward convergence (Yes).
Ne also confers open-mindedness (Yes). It helps ENTPs see truth on both sides of an issue without forming unwarranted judgments or premature conclusions (Yes). It also contributes an openness to alternative or Bohemian lifestyles (to some degree), allowing ENTPs to entertain options such as vegetarianism or joining a commune (I may entertain the ideas but I am currently not interested in either I have also entertained the Idea of becoming a Monk more seriously but opted against it).


Ne also resists excessive external structuring (Yes at least for myself), which can feel like an imposition to ENTPs’ sense of personal freedom and autonomy (Yes). ENTPs scoff at what they see as unnecessary or overly rigid rules (Yes), regulations (Yes), or procedures (Yes). They also dislike unchanging or sterile surroundings (Yes). When the environment is too bland or sterile, they can quickly become bored and restless (Yes).


Like other NPs, ENTPs can have a love-hate relationship with their Ne. They love the fact that it helps them remain open-minded (Yes), to see the bigger picture (Yes), and to appreciate different options and perspectives (Yes). They also enjoy its attendant sense of adventure (to some extent), expectancy (Yes), and wonderment toward life’s mysteries (Absolutely). But Ne also has its challenges. It can make it difficult for ENTPs to feel calm and satisfied (to some extent), to arrive at firm conclusions (Yes but this doesn't bother me much any more), or to feel confident in their decision-making (Absolutely this would be the hardest part questioning your ideas).
ENTPs’Auxiliary Function: Introverted Thinking (Ti)

As dominant Perceivers, ENTPs are disposed to taking a more passive approach to life (Yes), particularly with regard to the outside world (Yes). Like other EPs, they are content to remain in a mode of open Perceiving until they are prompted (Yes) whether inwardly or outwardly, to employ their auxiliary Judging function, Introverted Thinking (Ti) (Yes). When ENTPs feel compelled to engage their Ti, they become more inwardly focused and intense (Yes), similar to the typical mode of operation for INTPs (Yes). But because Ti is introverted in its direction, onlookers may fail to notice this more rational side of the ENTP.(Yes)


Ti involves the application of logic and reason for the sake of understanding a given situation, system, or problem. It also works to bring structure and order to the inner world. This inner structuring grants ENTPs a good sense of inner control.(Yes)


When engaging their Ti, ENTPs dig into the background of their thoughts to better understand their origins and to ensure their ideas are logical (Yes). Like INTPs, they can quickly find inconsistencies or logical shortcomings in a given theory or argument (Yes). They excel at identifying exceptions or imagining scenarios in which the proposed explanation might breakdown (Yes). They find it easier to identify logical shortcomings or inconsistencies (Yes) —to assert what is not true (Yes)—than to confidently assert what is true (Yes).


The difference between Ti in ENTPs versus INTPs is its place in the functional stack. For INTPs, it comes first, which makes them quicker to inwardly judge. INTPs then use their auxiliary Ne to open up and further explore their initial judgments. In ENTPs, the order is reversed. Rather than starting with an initial judgment or presumption like INTPs, they approach things through the fresh eyes of Intuition. They then employ their Ti to analyze and enhance the logic and structuring of their Ne perceptions. (This makes me think that I am ENTP)


In addition to the different ordering of their functional stacks, ENTPs, as dominant Perceivers, can more easily leave things open-ended or ambiguous than INTPs can (Yes I don't have a problem leaving things unfinished/open ended). Their Ne dominance also makes them more open to “playing” than INTPs are (Yes). I once administered a values inventory and was surprised when a couple ENTPs marked “having fun” as one of their top priorities in life (having fun is on my list of top priorities). To most INTPs, whose dominant Ti compels them to take life seriously, such a response smacks of hedonism and would likely be among their lowest ranked values (Wow, that clears up some things). ENTPs’ dominant Ne may also confer a greater interest in the arts and culture than typically seen among INTPs (I am some what interested in art and culture but it is passing and I would suspect inline with a lot of other INTPs).


The difference between Ti and Fi seems largely a matter of interests and emphases. Fi types (FPs) are more concerned and skilled with moral judgments (Fi) than logical ones (Ti) (am more interested in my conclusion making scene and I care very little it they fallow social norms) . They judge in terms of good and bad, love and hate, like and dislike. TPs, in contrast, start out with a need for sound logic (Ti) and are generally less concerned with matters of taste or morality upfront (morality is a concern for me however, it is normally the a secondary concern). They think less in terms of love and hate than reasonable and unreasonable, logical and illogical. With that said, since T and F are adjacent in ENTPs’ functional stack, it can sometimes be a bit tricky, especially early in their development, to tease out their T-F preference. (This may explain why some people believe I am a F even though I don't think its that unclear to me)

ENTPs’ Tertiary Function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

ENTPs’ tertiary function is Extraverted Feeling (Fe). Fe is the most interpersonal of all the functions, striving for interpersonal peace, harmony, and understanding. This not only involves attending to what is said, but also how something is said. While ENTPs may be less disturbed by or sensitive to external disharmony than some other types, they still work, even if largely unwittingly, to cultivate good feelings in the environment. (Yes I guess I can relate to that)


We can also approach ENTPs’ Fe more theoretically. Namely, since Fe is their preferred extraverted Judging function and falls lower in their functional stack, ENTPs are less comfortable extroverting judgments (Fe) than keeping them to themselves (Ti). This can lead ENTPs, along with other Perceiving types, to habitually defer to others’ wishes rather than asserting their own (hmm I don't do this at all I am quite pushy with my own way if I need to be). And because ENTPs have strong minds, they may grow inwardly resentful of those they see as trying to control them (At a younger age this may have been the case however, I have learned to express myself more openly). Granted, they are generally more self-assertive than IPs are, but their discomfort in deploying Fe can still get kindle problems in ENTPs’ relationships (I agree with this assessment expressing my emotions is the largest problem I have in my marriage).
ENTPs’ Inferior Function: Introverted Sensing (Si)

As is true of other types, ENTPs can be easily blinded to the degree to which their inferior function impacts their decisions and behavior (Yes I don't see Si at all). ENTPs seeking self-knowledge and personal growth must work to understand the ways their inferior function, Introverted Sensing (Si), manifests in their personality (I agree but I still don't see it).


Introverted Sensing is best understood when juxtaposed with its functional opposite, Ne. Despite their oppositional nature, when considered together, Ne and Si constitute a meaningful whole. As we have seen, Ne explores new ideas and possibilities. Si, by contrast, is concerned with preserving the past. Ne knows no limits, seeing infinite options and possibilities, while Si sees clearly defined limits as determined by past precedent. Ne is liberal and unfettered, Si conservative and careful. What is fascinating is that all of these opposing forces can exist within the same personality type. ENTPs tend to consciously identify with the needs and values of their Ne, while their subconscious pushes for the interests of Si (hmm interesting thought).


When using Ne, ENTPs can be rather oblivious to details (Yes). They may fail to effectively attend to the concrete details of daily life (Yes), such as forgetting to the bills (Yes), being careless with their diet (Yes), or not taking enough exercise (Yes). When engrossed in a creative project, however, ENTPs can look like INTJs, becoming perfectionistic (Sometimes) and obsessive over details (Sometimes). As N-dominants, it can be difficult for them to accept anything less than perfection when it comes to the physical embodiment (S) of their vision or ideas (N) (Yes, I guess I haven't ever thought of it that way).


A most overlooked feature of Si is its perception and awareness of internal bodily sensations—the body as felt and experienced from within. But since Si is ENTPs’ inferior function, they may feel out of touch with their inner body. To compensate, they may grant too much attention to certain physical sensations, making them more susceptible to hypochondriasis (kinda) or psychosomatic illnesses (Maybe), in which an increased focus on bodily sensations cultivates or heightens symptoms (Its possible).


N and S also have a temporal element. Si concerns itself with the past, while Ne is focused on future possibilities and potentials. ENTPs’ Si can confer an interest in the details of history (I do love history it shows us what not to do in the future). They also enjoy using their Ne to explore historical meanings (Yes), interpretations (Yes), and implications (Yes). This is why many ENTPs take up politics or journalism, careers that allow them to use their knowledge of history to analyze current events and speculate about the future.
ENTPs also experience tension between the traditional (Si) and the novel or unconventional (Ne). This is especially common for ENTPs in Phases I and II of their type development. To some degree, they remain attached and drawn to their childhood traditions (Si) (to some degree but not at large). At the same time, however, their Ne and Ti may encourage them to deconstruct and even rebel against those traditions (Yes). This can engender identity confusion in ENTPs, unsure of the degree to which they should break from their childhood traditions versus reconceiving themselves (Yes). Such struggles can leave ENTPs with questions like: Should I opt for family life or an unconventional lifestyle (at one point I.E. the Monk lifestyle I mentioned earlier)? Should I pursue the security of a conventional career (Si) or something more creative and potentially risky (Ne) (still trying to figure this one out)?


In considering such questions, ENTPs, need to ensure they are leading with their dominant function rather than their inferior. As N-dominants, ENTPs’ best strengths involve creatively exploring ideas, theories, and connections (Yes). To best utilize these strengths, they need to ensure they are not allowing their inferior Si to impose undue limits or boundaries on their explorations. They are generally better off using their Ne, as well as the reasoning capacities of their Ti, to hash out truth, rather than deferring to Si traditions (I agree).

(Wow I think I am ENTP as none of these principles that make up ENTP Ne, Ti, Fe, Si are partially social in the context of ENTP. It would be easy for me to have introverted tendencies and still be and ENTP that enjoys new ideas and sensations.)

 

[Chad]

I will finish INTP and my assessment of INFJ tomorrow.

 

[Chad]

The INFJ personality type is among the rarest of the sixteen types, constituting only 1-3% of the general population (not according to are resident INFJ's here they seem to think everyone is). Unlike the INTJ personality type, in which males predominate, there is greater gender parity among INFJs, with nearly equal numbers of males and females.


INFJs are “old souls.” Many grow up feeling wiser than would be predicted by their chronological age (I don't feel like I have enough wisdom for my age, however I am still working at this). Having discovered the benefits of their Introverted Intuition (Ni) quite early in life, INFJs grow to trust its judgments and insights. They may take on the role of counseling and advising their friends and siblings (I only give advice when asked), or even adult family members (I am more likely to ask advice form older people then try to give them advice), from a fairly young age (I don't even do this now and I am 28). Their gift for providing wise counsel often continues into adulthood. INFJs often feel happiest and most fulfilled when helping others understand themselves and their problems (I feel most fulfilled when I am leaning something new).


Because of their strength of intuition, many INFJs report feeling like aliens in the world (I don't know many people like myself but I don't really feel alienated I enjoy my individuality). One INFJ described her experience as a constant feeling of deja vu (I have felt Daja Vu before but not really on a regular bases). Others report feelings of disembodiment (Nope). The fact is that many INFJs (and INTJs) seem to experience the world and their bodies differently than other types do. It is therefore not uncommon for INFJs or others to occasionally question their sanity (I have questioned my sanity before but I believe I am still sane as of right now).


*Thank you for not pasting this INFJ profile onto other websites.

INFJs see two people in everyone. They see the public persona, the outer shell, that everyone else sees. But more importantly, their Ni provides a deeper sense or impression people, penetrating appearances and reading hidden motives and intentions (I can tell if someone is lying by there lack consistent facts not by some six sense) . . Rightly or not, INFJs often feel they can see people more clearly than those people can see themselves (I think they believe they can, I for one think that is bull*****).


To best understand INFJs, or other IJ types, it is necessary to recognize the full implications of their dominant function being a Perceiving function. I discuss this issue in my post, Rethinking Judging and Perceiving in IPs & IJs. In short, I suggest that INFJs are best viewed as predominant Perceivers and display many characteristics of ENPs, only that these are manifested inwardly rather than outwardly.


More specifically, INFJs are far less serious inwardly than they may appear outwardly (I am more serious inwardly then outwardly). Their inner world is well described as playful (sometimes when I don't have something serous to contemplate), imaginative(I believe so), colorful (to some extent), mischievous (not really), and daring (No). Characterized by Perceiving rather than Judging, it is far less controlled and regulated than that of INFPs. INFJs love playing with ideas (I do like this), perspectives (Yes), theories (Yes), images (Not particularly), symbols (sometimes), and metaphors (Yes). Their Ni serves as the veritable foundation for this inner playhouse. Because their Ni is dominant rather than auxiliary, INFJs tend to be more subversive in their ideation than ENFJs.


While INFJs are deeply theoretical (I am also deeply theoretical), they don’t build their theories by consciously assembling facts in the way that Thinking or Sensing types might (I try to build my theories on more and more ideas). Rather, INFJs see general connections and patterns by way of their Intuition (I can relate to this); they experience everything as interconnected (I agree to this). For INFJs, discovering truth involves getting a better handle on the nature of this connectedness by discerning universal laws and patterns (to some extent).


INFJs also have a deep concern for quality (Hmm). As will be elaborated later in this profile, they long to see their ideals (Ni) perfectly manifested in physical reality (Se) (Hmm). This need for quality underlies many common INFJ characteristics. Their attraction to art, for instance, can be understood as their attempt to perfectly embody an ideal in physical reality.(Nope) Their love for fine food, clothes, and architecture can be understood similarly (I enjoy good/not fine food and a certain style clothes and architecture but Fine or high end wouldn't actually fit, more like eccentric) . Unlike INFPs, who tend to see food, clothes, and housing as little more than physical necessities, INFJs see the physical world as a forum for manifesting beauty and perfection, a place to marry their Ni and Se. (Beauty and perfection are not my goals when it comes to material goods. For me they have to amuse my appetite for novelty or have a practical use)


Despite their refined or sophisticated tastes (nope), INFJs are generally not overly pretentious or serious individuals, at least not inwardly (ENFJs, as dominant Judgers, are characteristically more serious). INFJs enjoy regularly engaging with people (sometimes), listening to music (sometimes), and watching movies (Yes, I love watching movies). Perhaps more than anything, INFJs love spending time engrossed in meaningful conversation (personal thought turps meaningful conversation most days). Because of their verbosity and communal nature, they are commonly mistaken for Extraverts (I may be an Extroverted type ENTP possibly but I have never been mistaken for an Extrovert in my life)


Like the INFP personality type, many INFJs struggle with bouts of depression (I am not a depressed person I am and eternal optimist) , which may relate to any number of things. They may, for instance, get depressed when they feel their creative inspiration has abandoned them or because they feel consistently misunderstood. Depression may also stem from feeling dissatisfied in the INFJ’s careers or INFJ’s relationships. They may dream of having a beautiful home adorned with beautiful things, but feel stuck in a low-paying job that they are reluctant to quit because of a poor economy.(I can relate to the being stuck feeling but I am not depressed about it I plane to fix it as soon as I can)

INFJ Personality Type Development & Functional Stack

INFJs’ functional stack is composed of the following functions:
Dominant: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Inferior: Extraverted Sensing (Se)
INFJs’ personality type development can be broadly conceived according to three phases:
Phase I (Childhood-20s)

Early in life, INFJs are characterized by the development and dominance of their Introverted Intuition (Ni). Since they are Introverts, they may also show significant development of their second function, Extraverted Feeling (Fe), which can serve as a useful extraverted tool for navigating the outside world. The Ni-Fe function pair allows INFJs to make and express judgments. INFJs are particularly well-equipped to read and evaluate people, including their underlying motives.(This doesn't really fit me)


Since Ni is a Perceiving function, INFJs should not be viewed as closed-minded at any point in their development. But during Phase I, they might appear overly opinionated or closed-minded (this happened to me a bit in my teens however as a child I wasn't opinionated I was the type of kid that always asked questions), at least from without. Even if their judgments are precociously accurate, Phase I INFJs may lack some discernment regarding if and when it is best to express those judgments. Moreover, their Ni-Fe conclusions have yet to be honed and tempered by their tertiary Ti, making the INFJ more reluctant to carefully review or revise them. (I see this in many of the INFJ on our forum however, this doesn't fit who I know myself to be)

Phase II (20s-30s)

Once the dominant function reaches a certain threshold of strength and dominance, INFJs’ inferior function, Extraverted Sensing (Se), enters the picture and begins to play a more influential role. This can be confusing because the inferior is not next in line for development in the functional stack. The inferior’s undue influence derives from its bipolar relationship with the dominant function. As I’ve discussed elsewhere, the inferior function is the primary culprit in unwise career and relational decision-making. Unfortunately, its influence peaks in Phase II of type development, which happens to be the same time INFJs are making life-altering decisions about their careers and relationships.


In addition to the increasing presence and influence of their inferior function, INFJs also begin to open up and hone their judgments by way of their tertiary function, Introverted Thinking (Ti). The logic of their Ti serves to cross-check and refine their Ni-Fe judgments. As INFJs develop their Ti, they also become more interested in exploring their inferior function, Extraverted Sensing (Se). (I don't relate to this one either)



The rest wouldn't apply to me due to my age.

Phase III (30s, 40s, & Beyond)

Phase III, a phase which many individuals never reach or complete, is characterized by an attempt to understand and integrate the tertiary and inferior functions. By bringing these less conscious functions into the light of consciousness, we can better envision our path toward wholeness. Doing so requires understanding the nature of how these functions manifest within our type and becoming more aware of our personal patterns of unconscious behavior. Once these patterns have been made apparent, they can be replaced with healthier thoughts and behaviors. Decisions and behaviors become increasingly wise and conscious, engendering a lasting sense of satisfaction and wholeness. For INFJs, Phase III personal growth entails a deeper exploration of the nature of and challenges associated with their tertiary Ti and inferior Se.
INFJs’ Dominant Function: Introverted Intuition (Ni)

Intuition is generally considered a subconscious process. It is often contrasted with more conscious types of rational thought. Because Intuition is commonly associated with the unconscious, it is often thought to have a certain magical quality, capable of delivering comprehensive answers or solutions suddenly—“out of the blue.”


One of the central features of Intuition is its capacity to synthesize information. It is sensitive to patterns and similarities, quickly seeing connections among disparate pieces of data. By seeing how everything is connected and interrelated, it is capable of discerning universal laws and structures (I agree with this idea).


What is interesting about types with dominant Intuition, including INFJs, is that this Intuitive process, which for non-Intuitives is largely unconscious, is more accessible and observable in consciousness. This seems particularly true for INTJs and INFJs, whose Intuition is directly inwardly rather than being fused with the outside world. INJs have the good fortune of witnessing and consciously participating in a mysterious process which for other types is entirely unconscious. (hmm)



Because Ni affords INFJs a more intimate relationship with the workings of what most people call the subconscious mind, INFJs’ routine existence often assumes a sort of dreamlike quality (hmm, really). For INFJs, there is less of a distinction between their ordinary waking state and the experience of sleep. At times, this can make it difficult to separate dream from reality, making nightmares all the more disturbing for this type (I don't really get nightmares but some times my dreams feel real but I guess this would be the opposite). It is little wonder that many INJs, including Jung himself, find dream analysis so intriguing and important (intriguing yet important not really).


Because of their ready access to subconscious or subliminal information, INFJs are commonly viewed as profound (nope), insightful (Yes), and sometimes even psychic (Nope) or prophetic (Nope). While not diminishing the unique capacities of INFJs, Ni can be rational, non-magical terms (Hmm).


In order to understand Ni, it is first necessary to understand INFJ’s inferior function, Extraverted Sensing (Se). For INFJs, Se functions subconsciously and is constantly gathering copious amounts of sensory information from the environment. Meanwhile, their Ni is constantly working to process and synthesize this incoming data, like assembling pieces of a puzzle (hmm). Eventually, it manages to construct an impression or vision of what is happening (To some degree). Because other types are not privy to the workings of this Ni-Se processing loop, it can seem as though INFJs’ insights are magical or divinely inspired (Okay, my insights while often outside of the box are far form seemingly magical). In reality, INFJs cannot see the future, but are simply more skilled than most at accurately discerning what is happening in a given situation (I would agree with this sentiment). This allows them to better envision what how things might unfold should they continue along their current course (interesting). This ability to accurately “see” is why INFJs are sometimes described as prophets or seers (I use reason and my understanding of human nature and the world around us to make predictions but it is not the same as and not always accurate. As my understand grows my predictions become more and more accurate but still not six sense for what is true)


It is often said that human beings rely more heavily on vision than we do our other senses. This seems especially true of INFJs, who often ascribe a strong visual element to their Ni. INFJs often “think” by way of images rather than words (I think in words not images and I learn primarily though hearing and reading). Their intuitions often manifest in the form of symbols, images, dreams, or patterns. This is consistent with Jung’s characterization of the Ni type as a dreamer or seer. There is a distinct visual character to these notions, which is why vision-related terms—foresight, insight, seer, visionary, etc.—are invariably used in describing INFJs (hmm). The visual nature of Ni might also tie into INFJs’ inferior Se, which is also a highly visual function. The difference is that Se is attuned to the specifics and details of the environment, whereas Ni is more concerned with forming an impression or theory of what is happening based on the totality of incoming sensory information.


INFJs’ propensity for processing information visually may contribute to one of their signature strengths: reconciling opposites (I can do this some times). One advantage of visual processing is it doesn’t have the same rules or impediments of verbal processing. In some cases, problems may be better solved by employing images or symbols rather than by other means (interesting). It should not surprise us that Jung himself hailed the value of imagery and symbols. For Jung, symbols were critical for dealing with paradoxes, including the challenge of reconciling opposing psychological functions, which he dubbed “the type problem.”(An interesting ideas but it doesn't apply to me.)

INFJs’ Auxiliary Function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)

INFJs use Extraverted Feeling (Fe) as their auxiliary function. As the most interpersonal of all the functions, Fe is attuned to surveying and improving interpersonal feelings and morale. Like other FJ types, INFJs work to cultivate “good feelings” in the interpersonal environment (To some extent). In order to survey others’ feelings, Fe contributes to INFJs’ ability to read emotional expressions and body language. This, in combination with their Se and Ni, allow them to effectively read, understand, and relate to others (I can see this some times however understanding and applying this information can be hard).


Interestingly, INFJs can have a more difficult time with perceiving and understanding their own emotions. This is due to the fact that their Feeling function is directed outwardly (i.e., extraverted) rather than inwardly (I can relate to this). Unlike INFPs, whose Feeling function is introverted (Fi), INFJs are less equipped to manage their emotions independently. Inwardly, they deal in the currency of Intuition (Ni) and Thinking (Ti). Hence, when INFJs find themselves in emotionally taxing circumstances, they often turn to others for aid and support (I can also relate to this).


Fe also entails an extraversion of judgment. INFJs utilize their Fe to express their thoughts, feelings, opinions, and grievances. Fe gives voice and shape to INFJs’ feelings and intuitions. In many cases, INFJs do not know fully understand the nature of an Ni insight until given the opportunity to verbalize it. (hmm) They may have a hunch or a gut feeling, but the content of the intuition can remain somewhat nebulous until it is expressed via their Fe (I don't really understand how that would work). Assuming they have not been severely censored in their upbringing, INFJs are generally happy to share their feelings and perspectives. In fact, given the right opportunity, INFJs will often talk at length about their feelings and intuitions (I speak more about my ideas and concepts and feelings are to difficult for me to articulate). Unlike FP types, who generally prefer a more dialogical format, INFJs are inclined toward monologues, which allow them to fully flesh out their ideas on a certain topic.(I can relate to this)



INFJs’ Fe can present differently among strangers than it does with their intimates (I think this is true for anyone). In larger groups, INFJs may seem consistently cheery as part of their attempt to cultivate good feelings (hmm that fits). Many INFJs have a good sense of humor and can be funny and engaging (I can be at times). Enlisting their vivid imaginations and knack for metaphor, they can also make good storytellers (I think I am good at this too). In the company of close confidants, however, INFJs use their Fe to be more open and direct with their grievances (I am indirect for the most part. Not on purpose mostly because I normally come form an outside perspective of things). Since some INFJs feel like tortured souls (I don't feel this), their commentary may take on a characteristically negative tone (I try to stay positive for the most part). They may seem moody (No), pessimistic (Absolutely not), discontented (Yes), or restless (sometimes). They can also seem fairly intense in their communication when infused with the emotion of Fe.(I may seem intense on the forum however this is not really the case in real life) Consequently, their expressions can seem exaggerated (not really), dramatic (no), or irrational (no), especially to Thinking types. They differ in this respect from INFPs, who are less disposed to melodrama(I hate melodrama) in their verbiage. INFJs can also be susceptible to self-pity and self-loathing (not my style), seeing themselves as victims (My number one rule is that no matter what anyone else does I am not a victim my actions and thought are my own). They may curse the fact that life isn’t fair (I realize it but I don't believe it has to be either), feeling that they always end up with the short end of the stick. (I am far more fortunate than many others)



For INFJs, expressing themselves through their Fe is critical to their psychological and physical health and well-being (Then I would be a Psychotic INFJ) . Even if doing so does not provide them with immediate solutions to the problem at hand, they tend to feel better once they have expressed their feelings (I feel better once I figure out what caused my feelings), whether through words or tears. This is especially important for the mates or friends of INFJs to recognize. While not necessarily looking for others to solve their problems, INFJs value emotional support, empathy, and reassurance (I don't really need this and I feel wired when people try to do this). Without such an outlet, INFJs can begin to feel isolated and depressed, turning to their inner fantasy world as a means of escape (I do often turn to fantasy to escape) . And while fantasizing may seem helpful in the short-term, it can make the real world seem even less tolerable and exacerbate existing frustrations toward life. (I agree with this to some extent)



Even if not to the same extent as EFJs, INFJs can be warm (Not normally), welcoming (not really), loyal (To an extent), giving (No), and self-sacrificing (No). At the same time, as Introverts, they need time to themselves to recharge their proverbial batteries. This creates an ongoing, even lifelong, struggle for INFJs, trying to balance their own needs and desires with those of others.(I honestly, try to focus on myself because I can't change others)



INFJs commonly experience a conflict in values between their Ni and Fe. For example, they may be asked by a friend or relative to donate to a cause they don’t believe in. This puts them in the difficult position of deciding between honoring their own perspectives (Ni) or maintaining the harmony of the relationship (Fe) (LoL I don't give money unless I want to). Since INFJs can having difficulty saying no (No I don't have a problem with that word), they will often opt to oblige others, even while inwardly regretting doing so.(I do what I believe it right) INFJs may experience similar issues in school. INFJs are disposed to questioning the veracity of what the teacher or other students are saying (I did question my teachers), not to mention issues of character. At the same time, however, they want to please the teacher and maintain external harmony.(Nope I made my teach look completely dumb sometimes) This can leave them feeling torn between allegiance to truth (Ni) versus Fe people-pleasing. (For me truth normally wins out)



Because of the strength of their Fe, INFJs need to be careful not to abandon their Ni in the face of outward pressures. Since Ni is their best and most reliable compass for navigating life, when they lost track of it, INFJs can easily feel lost, restless, and frustrated. Hence, when it comes to decision-making, INFJs are wise to listen primarily to their own inner voice.
INFJs’ Tertiary Function: Introverted Thinking (Ti)

The role of Introverted Thinking (Ti) in INFJs is to open and further refine their Fe judgments. Ti can help INFJs think more critically and analytically(I can relate). It can serve as an aid and check to their Ni-Fe, helping them discern where their ideas might fit into existing categories and frameworks of knowledge. It adds an element of logic that is less apparent in the earlier phases of their type development. For instance, INFJs who grew up in a religious home may be disposed to interpreting their insights through the lens of their childhood faith tradition. As they develop their Ti, however, they might come to question whether that wisdom might better understood in psychological terms.(Interesting)


What INFJs may perceive as a negative or difficult feature of their Ti is its tendency to generate self-doubt (I have self doubt but I see it as a necessity part of my development). As Ti butts up against the insights offered by their Ni, INFJs may temporarily distrust their most cherished and utilized mode of knowing—their Intuition. But personal growth is never easy, not for any type. With time, INFJs settle into a healthy balance between their Ni and Ti, intuitively knowing how to apply their Ti without spoiling the insights proffered by their Intuition.


Less developed INFJs may see little need to use or develop their Ti. Since their Ni-Fe pairing provides them with strong convictions about truth, taking an additional step to Ti may seem unnecessary. With time and maturity, however, INFJs can grow increasingly comfortable with their Ti and recognize its inherent value. (My thought process and analysis are my bread and butter I wouldn't be me without them)

INFJs’ Inferior Function: Extraverted Sensing (Se)

For those unfamiliar with the powerful influence of the inferior function in personality, as well as common strategies for dealing with it, I encourage you to explore my post, Understanding the Inferior Function.
As is true of other types, INFJs can be blinded to the degree to which their inferior function impacts their decisions and behavior. As discussed in my INFJ careers post, INFJs may be enticed by their inferior function, Extraverted Sensing (Se), to pursue careers for which they are ill-suited. Or relationally, they might pair off with an ESP in attempt to secure, even if unwittingly, what they are lacking and striving to find in themselves (i.e., Se). To avoid being subconsciously controlled by their inferior function, INFJs seeking self-knowledge and personal growth must work to understand the ways in which Se manifests in their personality.
Disembodiment

Of all types, INFJs (and INTJs) are the most disconnected from their own bodies. Not only is their S function inferior, but INFJs use Se rather than Si, and Si is the function that confers an internal sense of one’s own body. INFJs commonly report a sense of disembodiment, as though living in a perpetual, dream-like state. (Ya, I have never experienced this)



Relatedly, INFJs commonly have nightmares about unforeseen declines in their health (Nope). They may also worry that they could develop a serious disease without registering the common warning signs (Nope). Others may fear that their obliviousness to physical reality might compromise the safety or well-being of their children (Nope). INFJs may also forget to eat or, at the other extreme, overeat, because of their lack of attention to their level of fullness or the amount they have eaten. (I have forgotten to eat before but I understand when I am full)


In trying to compensate for this mind-body disconnect, INFJs may subject themselves to strict regimens of diet, exercise, and medical check-ups. Without this consistency, they fear their bodily obliviousness could result in potentially serious health consequences. (I don't think like this either)

Sensory & Material Novelty/Security

Despite being the most otherworldly and abstract of the types (along with INTJs), INFJs have a curious thirst for sensory novelty and material comforts (Se) (I do enjoy novelty and comfort). They often develop refined and sophisticated tastes for food, art, design, architecture, and the like (My taste are not refined they are unique though). Not only do they love the fine things that money can buy, but also the experiences (I love new experiences too). INFJs enjoy travel (Yep), attending the opera (No) or symphony (sometimes depend on how much it cost) , or savoring a fine meal (I an not one for fine eating I am more for good food).


Because of their inferior’s concern for material comforts, INFJs also tend to struggle with subsistence-related fears (I don't have lots of fears). They may worry excessively about losing their jobs (I worry about not losing my job), being forced to relocate (I would love to see new places), or not having enough money (I hate money).


Despite their love of worldly things (No), INFJs display an equal propensity to discount or downplay the importance of “things” in their lives(I guess I do this as well). They tell themselves they aren’t supposed to be concerned physical matters (Se), but metaphysical ones (Ni) (I agree). They can be quick to criticize Sensing types for their materialism or superficiality while secretly envying them (I think I may be guilty of this too). INFJs may also balk at conventional practices, such as marriage (Nope I am married), seeing the marriage contract as superfluous to their metaphysical union with their partner. At the same time, however, they may themselves envying their friends who are getting married, having children, living in nice homes, etc.


This tug-of-war between their dominant N and inferior S also surfaces when making decisions about careers or relationships. INFJs may struggle to choose between a partner (or job) who promises material security (S) versus one who connects with them on a metaphysical plane.(I honestly don't have the privilege to choose between material security and my personal/metaphysical preferences. I may chose material security for the short term my my preferences always rule out in the end)

Ideal (Ni) vs. Actual (Se); Perfectionism

Envisioning a more ideal world isn’t necessarily bad or unhealthy for INFJs. The fact is that they wouldn’t be INFJs if they didn’t routinely receive new impressions and visions. The issue is not with their dreaming per se, but with the degree to which they become attached to or insistent on the perfect materialization (Se) of their ideals (Ni). This is where INFJs’ perfectionism comes to the fore. (I am an anti perfectionist, not really but I don't think imputing my ideas of right or wrong would create a perfect order around me)



All dominant Intuitives can be perfectionistic, driven to see their N ideals perfectly translated into S reality. The issue of quality is extremely important to INFJs (I am not a perfectionist), which is why they can be so particular about the things they buy or the way their work is done. Some INFJs may sacrifice everything, even their own health or sanity, to ensure their vision finds a perfect incarnation (No). They can be obsessive and “in the grip,” locked into a narrow mode of existence they cannot readily escape (I've see this happen but It not characteristic myself). In such a state, any deviation from their ideal may feel like the end of the world (The world would never meet my ideals I accept this).


INFJs are also perfectionistic when it comes to themselves (I am more perfectionisic about myself but not extremely so). They are often much harder on themselves than they are on others (Yes). Their Fe makes them more than willing to forgive the offenses and shortcomings of others (Most of the time). But since they see themselves as “knowing better,” they may fail to grant themselves the same degree of grace (I grant myself plenty of grace but I still try to not fail myself). They may reason that if they cannot perfectly embody their ideal of the moral life, then how could they expect anyone else to (I don't expect anyone to do this including myself). And if their ideals have no real chance of being actualized, then why should the INFJ even exist (I exist to learn more)? Without the ability to maintain hope in their ideals, they may feel they have no reason for living (I can always learn more therefore I don't believe I can possible give up on life). This is partly why it feels so important for them to act perfectly. This notion is well-captured in the words of Jesus: “But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48, NIV).

 

[Chad]

Given that I do have at least some understanding of myself what would you conclude form my last 3 posts on ENTP, INTP, and INFJ.

My wife read the three and says that she still believe that I am INTP.

I am still leaning closer to ENTP.

What do you think?

 

[Chad]

Open ended question.

How do you use typology?

 

[BigApplePi]

How do you use typology?

It helps to improve expectations in oneself and others.

 

[Echolalia]

This is one of my favorite logic ideas.

All Unicorns are Purple. I am a Unicorn. Therefore I am Purple.

I would like you to see your try to refute my perfect logic.

A) All Unicorns are Purple.
B) I am a Unicorn.
C) I am Purple.

C cannot be concluded, unless the validity of A and B has been addressed in order to justify C. So:

A) All Unicorns are Purple.
B) I am a Unicorn.
C) If A and B are valid, X is valid.
X) I am Purple.

X cannot be concluded without C being included in the relationship.

A) All Unicorns are Purple.
B) I am a Unicorn.
C) If A and B are valid, X is valid.
D) If A, B, and C are valid, X is valid.
X) I am Purple.

...regressus in infinitum.

Logic is a construct used to make sense of the world we live in, but it is chimerical to think this world is constrained by logic, or as we have made sense of it.