I haven't read the dissertation yet. But just reading the cartoon you linked put me in mind of a friend who's spendt the last year headed down various cult/conspiracy theory rabbit holes, despite the efforts of their friends and family. They would absolutely agree that our society is dominated by authoritarian mind control. And angrily complaining that no one takes them seriously when they question the consensus narrative has become their favorite pastime. As presented in the previous posters cartoon, from their perspective B(I)TE describes what they see as a conspiracy against "the real truth". For example:
>"Of course you're allowed to ask questions. Here is the list of approved questions."
Why aren't candidates for office all tested by <my pet kook> to make sure they aren't really lizard people?
Why don't flat-earthers get equal academic research funding?
What are the real reasons why we haven't gone back to the Moon?
>"You're absolutely free to study and investigate for yourself. Here is the list of approved sources."
These YouTube videos all tell me I'm right.
So do all these people on Twitter.
Academic journals, mainstream media and PhD are all in on the scam, except for this one who agrees with what I think.
>"We're not trying to stifle thought! We want you to learn everything you can as you reach the approved conclusions."
Why does no one take my concerns about cancer from 5G wifi seriously?
Why do you all look at me strangely when I saw the Earth is really only 6000 years old?
Lamarckian evolution really makes sense. You're all sheep for believing in that Darwin crap!
Is it possible that you and I are as susceptible as all humanity throughout history to consensus beliefs?
You would probably disagree with how Christianity framed the common worldview in Europe in the Middle Ages. Or how Islamic beliefs did the same in the Islamic countries. Or Ancient India. Etc. But you are convinced that you are closer to a true understanding of reality now than they were. Why? Can you explain why your view of reality is better via the use of reason alone, without reference to your culture?
I would think you would struggle. Perhaps some older views of the world were as well or better reasoned than the beliefs we presently take for granted. And I say 'belief' because even if we think such-and-such is 'known to us' unless you have personally verified it, is is a belief not knowledge to you. It is an illusion of knowledge.
Questions about understanding objective reality are mostly answered by consensus answers ('palmed off', is more accurate). Most of us live in a world of belief, where we cannot truly claim to know very much. For example - how did you prove the earth was a ball to yourself such that you can call that knowledge, even though the intuitive working assumption that we all share is that it is flat? Most likely you assume that some scientist has got this, so you don't need to know.
I say that accepting this sort of 'fast and loose' belief despite any personal experience, is to do a dis-service to oneself. It leaves one susceptible to common misunderstandings, unable to evaluate things for oneself, demanding an authority figure to guide one through the morass of difficult questions.
This is plainly a dis-empowered position. There are surely lots of nefarious characters that would seek to take advantage of people's misplaced faith, no?
ScarletEmerald|3 years ago
>"Of course you're allowed to ask questions. Here is the list of approved questions."
Why aren't candidates for office all tested by <my pet kook> to make sure they aren't really lizard people? Why don't flat-earthers get equal academic research funding? What are the real reasons why we haven't gone back to the Moon?
>"You're absolutely free to study and investigate for yourself. Here is the list of approved sources."
These YouTube videos all tell me I'm right. So do all these people on Twitter. Academic journals, mainstream media and PhD are all in on the scam, except for this one who agrees with what I think.
>"We're not trying to stifle thought! We want you to learn everything you can as you reach the approved conclusions."
Why does no one take my concerns about cancer from 5G wifi seriously? Why do you all look at me strangely when I saw the Earth is really only 6000 years old? Lamarckian evolution really makes sense. You're all sheep for believing in that Darwin crap!
verisimi|3 years ago
You would probably disagree with how Christianity framed the common worldview in Europe in the Middle Ages. Or how Islamic beliefs did the same in the Islamic countries. Or Ancient India. Etc. But you are convinced that you are closer to a true understanding of reality now than they were. Why? Can you explain why your view of reality is better via the use of reason alone, without reference to your culture?
I would think you would struggle. Perhaps some older views of the world were as well or better reasoned than the beliefs we presently take for granted. And I say 'belief' because even if we think such-and-such is 'known to us' unless you have personally verified it, is is a belief not knowledge to you. It is an illusion of knowledge.
Questions about understanding objective reality are mostly answered by consensus answers ('palmed off', is more accurate). Most of us live in a world of belief, where we cannot truly claim to know very much. For example - how did you prove the earth was a ball to yourself such that you can call that knowledge, even though the intuitive working assumption that we all share is that it is flat? Most likely you assume that some scientist has got this, so you don't need to know.
I say that accepting this sort of 'fast and loose' belief despite any personal experience, is to do a dis-service to oneself. It leaves one susceptible to common misunderstandings, unable to evaluate things for oneself, demanding an authority figure to guide one through the morass of difficult questions.
This is plainly a dis-empowered position. There are surely lots of nefarious characters that would seek to take advantage of people's misplaced faith, no?