(Originally published June 22, 2020.)
I hadn’t planned on this post, but the ongoing mania compels me to contribute something toward the preservation of sanity and civilization. And so, here are some things to remember:
Humans are idolaters. Or at least most are when pressured. What we’re seeing now is an expression of idolatry and dogma. And bear in mind that the proudly anti-religious are often the most idolatrous and dogmatic.
Whenever people are getting whipped up for a cause – any cause – that’s the right time to step away. And if they start chanting, move away quickly. I’ll forgo the long explanation, but joining the pack slays reason, and for as long as you remain in the pack.
And this really is idolatry, because whatever we place above reason… whatever we place above open questioning… has become our god.
The crowd is always a deceiver. No one expressed this more concisely than Simone Weil, when she said, “conscience is deceived by the social.” Conscience is individual, social is collective, and the two are at odds. Likewise, sanity is individual and mania is collective.
Within the crowd, malice appears as duty, honor, order and justice. To reside in the crowd is to be deceived; the only question is how much.
Just a few specifics:
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Any time you surrender your decision-making to outsiders, you are making an error. (And yes, that means that authority is fundamentally a scam.)
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The more intimidated you are, the less your better functions can operate.
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Moral courage is far, far more important than physical courage.
The mob is the enemy of what’s best in you. Separate from it at the first opportunity.
Civilization is not a function of systems, it’s a function of what’s in us. We are the primaries; all systems, good, bad or indifferent, are derivatives.
The great error of the democratic era, certainly true over my now-fairly-considerable lifetime, was that people believed Democracy would solve all their problems, and would by itself assure civilization. That was always an idolatrous dream. What matters is what we are as individuals.
No institution is to be taken as anything more than a blunt tool. The civilization we hold in ourselves is what holds the world in sanity, and nothing else can, no matter how it is advertised.
Grouping degrades human function. As individuals, we are magical creatures who can reverse entropy willfully. Within the group, we are a collection of pieces trying to feel powerful.
Being grouped degrades us and teaches us bad lessons. Standing as an individual makes us better, sometimes in spurts and sometimes slowly. Whatever exceptions and gray areas may exist, joining a crowd makes us worse. What makes us better is freedom of conscience, a recognition of human dignity, and a belief in our own efficacy.
Finally…
I want to make one statement very clearly, and I hope you remember it:
The people who marshal movements are taking advantage of human weaknesses.
And yes, many of them are aware of it. So step away from the crowd, cultivate your individual mind, and have civilization in yourself.
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Paul Rosenberg
freemansperspective.com
Hi Paul
As usual I have enjoyed your FM’sP.
However, not sure that I agree with your statement; “And bear in mind that the proudly anti-religious are often the most idolatrous and dogmatic.”
I’m a free thinker and do not believe in any god, sail the world on my boat and I’m certainly not idolatrous or dogmatic; “I plough my own furrow”. I have met many like mined individuals in my travels. I am aware that there are many people who need a god to believe in, often that belief is what holds them together and that’s fine with me.
In my experience I do find that those who are religious are the most dogmatic and Idolatrous, which is opposite to your statement but I’m happy and willing to listen to any further explanation you my have.
With best wishes.
Hi Steven,
Funny that we should have rather opposite views. I’ll guess that different things stand out to each of us. But in any event, your experience is no less valid than mine (it would be hard to study this precisely), and I’m glad that I included “often.” 🙂
All the best!
Hi Paul
The one thing about a free thinker as that we can listen to opposite views and are prepared to have a ‘mind change’ if a convincing argument is presented. Obviously, regarding a belief or even the need to believe in a god, in my case, so far not.
Having said, that I am interested and do agree with pretty much everything else you comment on.
This reminds me of when I was studying religious instruction at school, I enjoyed reading the Bible particularly the Old Testament and found it a great history book and still works well without the god aspect, if read as a history book…that’s my personal opinion of course. The irony is, that at the age of 15, it was my ‘RI’ teacher who made me question the god aspect. I’m 74 now and haven’t been persuaded otherwise…yet.
You are always thought provoking so thank you for making me think
Best wishes.
Steven
Thanks for this, Paul. It goes a long way in explaining why, as I’ve gotten older (wiser?) I’ve developed an aversion to being in crowds. I’m quite sociable in small settings but being in a crowd feels like I’m being controlled, even at “friendly” events like ball games. Now I can put my finger on the “why”.
Best regards,
Bill
There are many ways that people are divided, or divide themselves. Red-blue, capitalist-socialist, etc., but as I pondered on this, I had the clear idea that the division that is perhaps most important is the curious-opinionated divide. I try always to keep to the curious side of the divide. I have opinions, but I am always willing to consider if they remain valid as I continue exploring and learning. However, most people I interact with seem to be wedded to their opinions, and reject out-of-hand any evidence that might disrupt their positions. Sort of, “I know what I believe, so don’t try to confuse me with facts!”
I have also pondered how to encourage more curiosity, but among adults it seems to be an uphill battle. With children and adolescents, I have more success with questions that open up possibilities that are different than what they have been spoon-fed by their authority figures, but I have doubts that the benefits will endure as they mature into adults.
I love the quote attributed to John Maynard Keynes, when attacked for changing his position on an issue of the day, he responded, “When the facts change, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?”