The bedrock of modern humanist thought is traditionally believed to be rooted in Rene' Descartes 'Cogito Egro Sum': "I think, therefore, I am." Because I can doubt my existence, Descartes argued that it proves my existence. Doubt ignites reason, and reason allows me to be self-aware. No longer are humans held captive to religious myth and superstition, we can now find truth through clear-eyed empirical thinking. Intellectual freedom is now ours. Truly knowing and living in the real world can be obtained through application of the scientific method and the maxims of rationalist thinking. But 300 years later, philosophers are not so sure clear thinking is actually possible. Just look at the human carnage born from the humanist theories of Darwin, Hegel, Marx and Nietzsche. WW1 and WW2 bare witness to the flaws in human reason. As a reaction to reason, the 1960's offered up various forms of existentialism and goofy post-modern thought. The psychedelic drug culture of Timothy Leary and the music of Pink Floyd were a mocking tribute to humanism's defects: "Don't think, smoke some weed and feel! Forget reason and the hard realities of being held prisoner by the machine, and embrace the lunatic!" In retrospect, maybe we have given reason too much credit? Here is my two cents worth, I think there has always been a more primal element at play in the heart of man. I would like to offer up a different philosophical proposition to understand the world: "I'm liked, therefore, I am." I contend people endorse what is popular, they are moved by image, they want to be "cool." Everywhere you turn people long to be liked, they want to belong, and they strive to be accepted. Reason isn't the determinate factor for truth anymore, association is. Metaphorically speaking, the world is one big high school hallway. The popular group dictates the trends and behaviors; they write the punch-lines of the jokes, and they expect the rest of the world to laugh. If the pretty girls start wearing feathers in their hair, so will their followers. If the good-looking jock wears a pink Izod shirt, so will his band of mindless brothers. Maybe I am unduly influenced by my marketing background, but I believe the "Bell Curve" may be the most precise predictor of perceived reality. So instead of determining the truth of "who I am" by what is reasonable, I define self and reality by what others consider to be "cool." The group I want to be like, I begin to think like. And the cool group determines how to think. Coolness pervades everything: entertainment, politics, social science, psychology, science and even religion. The examples can be found everywhere: * Entertainment: There is no other arena where the "cool" group captures the camera. Who cares if they aren't talented or skilled, what matters is if they are sexy & cool. Why else would we care about the Kardashians and Bruce Jenner, because of intellect and ability? C'mon, limelight has become a high school popularity contest. Look at our popular comics: Amy Schumer, Seth Rogan, and Lena Dunhum? They are not even funny, but those who determine what is popular tell us they are funny...and they aren't. They are childish and crude. Just like a high school locker room. * Science: Seriously, why does anyone believe in evolution? Because the cool university culture tells us to. And if we mention the idea of "intelligent design" professors and philosophers don't engage us in discussion, they simply laugh at us. Like the jock does to the nerds in the cafeteria. * Politics: Do we elect people by their successful track record? No, money and coolness win again. We elect the president who takes a selfie, goes on Jimmy Fallon, and fawns over Beyonce'. Congressmen who call for fiscal responsibility are considered dowdy old-fuddy duddies. Progressives however, are sexy, cool, the leaders of the popular crowd. The media are their cheerleaders, lauding their coolness; while mocking the chess-playing nerds across the aisle. Progessives push what's popular, and we are fools if we don't follow their parade...just look at the Espy's if you don't believe me. * Religion: Theology and doctrine don't sell, let's face it; thinking is completely overshadowed by compassion. The Bible is as out-of-date as a newspaper. And we are now told love requires tolerance instead of holiness. Homosexuality is the new cause; true Jesus followers never judge, especially sinful behavior. We hire the pastors who look best online - - the ones who make us laugh, or cry, they are the ones we hire. Like having a high school party, no one ever invites a party pooper. Coolness sells, coolness persuades, and coolness is here to stay. So don't try using reason to argue your point, my suggestion is simple: Start wearing skinny jeans and maybe, just maybe, people will finally listen to you? If the jocks don't like you, you might as well go back to the chemistry lab alone - - no one cares about thinking nerds anymore.
2 Comments
Greg Goss
7/21/2015 06:23:56 pm
In a court of law you can not assume facts not in evidence. When on trial for trying to cast a vote the first question posed to Susan B Anthony was, "On November 5th of 1872 were you in fact a woman?"
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Chris
7/21/2015 10:18:39 pm
Greg, I wish our schools taught logic. I think you are so right, especially the idea that humanism expects you NOT to think.
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