About Fire Pits and Chimineas

[DISCLAIMER]

When I attended training for Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with the Albert Ellis Institute in 2021, via virtual sessions with the New York, New York headquarters of the Institute, I was surprised to learn that one of the lead instructors knew little about fire pits and chimineas.

According to one source, “The defining feature of fire pits is that they are designed to contain fire and prevent it from spreading. A fire pit can vary from a pit dug in the ground (fire hole) to an elaborate gas burning structure of stone, brick, and metal.”

According to a separate source, a chiminea is “a freestanding front-loading fireplace or oven with a bulbous body and usually a vertical smoke vent or chimney.” Growing up in Texas, having lived here for the majority of my life, I’m quite familiar with fire pits and chimineas.

Thus, I was surprised that an REBT instructor said that she’d only recently learned of these fire-containing devices from a trainee. Earlier this morning, I was reminded of my 2021 discovery and the concept of logical common knowledge about which one source states:

There is common knowledge of p in a group of agents G when all the agents in G know p, they all know that they know p, they all know that they all know that they know p, and so on ad infinitum.

I assumed that because I (being from Texas) knew about fire pits and chimineas, other people (even those from New York) also knew about fire pits and chimineas. I think this is an important, albeit relatively brief, lesson that applies to the REBT concept of unconditional acceptance (UA).

I prefer psychologist Steven Pinker’s perspective relating to the assumption that others know what we know, as it pertains to common knowledge in game theory. Pinker has stated:

I know something. You know something. I know you know it. You know that I know it. I know that you know that I know that you know it, ad infinitum—or not. This is where we each know something but we’re not so sure that the other guy knows that we know it.

When practicing UA, I maintain it’s important to remember that I’m a fallible human being who doesn’t know everything and that other imperfect people also remain ignorant (lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified) about matters which I know.

For example, when driving, it’s helpful to remember my use of directional lights (“turn signals”) so that other motorists can know in which direction I intend on turning. Likewise, I may unconditionally accept that some people simply don’t know (or care) to use turn signals.

When using this favorable outlook, I’m less likely to self-disturb. Presuming that you understand this relatively brief psychoeducational lesson about common knowledge and UA, how might you apply this knowledge in your own life?

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

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Hollings, D. (2024, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2024, May 11). Fallible human being. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fallible-human-being

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Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation

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Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2024, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux

Peterson, J. B. (2019, August 10). Steven Pinker: Progress, despite everything [Video – starting at around minute 1:20:40]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/pBylbB7s5Nw

Policonomics. (n.d.). Game theory I: Common knowledge. Retrieved from https://policonomics.com/lp-game-theory1-common-knowledge/

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Chiminea. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimenea#:~:text=A%20chimenea%20(UK%20English)%20or,Chimenea%20burning%20wood

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Common knowledge (logic). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_knowledge_(logic)

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Fire pit. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_pit

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Steven Pinker. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Pinker