1/ This is right. Critical Race Theory is a small part of a larger mindset. That mindset is, and essentially always has been, my focus. There ARE ways to address it. But since nobody else is looking at it, nobody’s thinking about addressing it. taibbi.substack.com/p/is-critical-… 2/ The larger mindset is WEIRD Platonic Idealism, described in my Quillette essay, here: quillette.com/2018/04/20/tow…

1/ Anti-science myths upon which Western culture is based (broadly speaking), and which are the unspoken assumptions upon which social, ideological, and political analysis and debate are based. 2/ Your ideology and your ideological beliefs are based in evidence and logic.

The fact is, the human brain works the other way around. Instincts, intuitions, and feelings come first, then we use evidence and reasoning to justify ours and persuade others that *ours* are right.

1/ Just riffing here. Don’t know where this will go....

I think a part of human nature is a deep-seated need (in a good way) to feel validated; not in the sense of being right about something, nor in the sense of official recognition like having a blue check, but rather.. 2/ ...in the sense of being seen, heard, recognized, acknowledged, valued, as an individual; a person.

I think such validation contributes to a person’s mental and emotional health. It affords them some amount of self assurance, and some confidence with which to face the world.

My next best hope: a liquid biopsy. A simple blood draw, tested to see if cells from tumors are in my blood. If so then sequence the dna of the cancer to maybe find a targeted or immuno therapy. Scheduled 3/6/21

From Foundation Medicine @FoundationATCG

A liquid biopsy obviates the need for a tissue biopsy which can be difficult since the cancer is in my bones.

The quoted tweet illustrates the crushing power of one particular aspect of human nature:

Narratives rule.

Not evidence.
Not facts.
Not logic.
Not truth.

Narratives.

The prevailing narrative; the zeitgeist; the social capital, of a culture -

crushes all in its path.

https://twitter.com/PsychRabble/status/1361293092901564417

The education system *used to* instill in students the narrative of classical liberalism - shown here from page one of Cynical Theories by Pluckrose and Lindsay:

1/ Thread:

A topic Social Science seems to not see, but I believe is key to understanding what’s going on.

(I’m riffing extemporaneously here, and reserve the right to refine and improve this argument as I think about it more):

https://twitter.com/psychrabble/status/1206775475311431682

2/ I think it’s important to look at current events within the context of the arc of history. Patterns emerge, insights are gained, conclusions can be drawn, that are not visible otherwise, and therefore possible beneficial paths forward are also missed.

The central premise underlying the vast majority of analyses of current politics is wrong. Because the premise is wrong most diagnoses are wrong. Because most diagnoses are wrong most prescriptions are wrong.

Here is that premise: Here is another depiction of the incorrect premise, using moral foundations:

I struggle at times to succinctly articulate ideas that in my mind are, dare I say, self-evident. Concepts that seem to me obvious common sense are sometimes exceedingly difficult for others to “get.” I don’t mean to say that I’m right and they’re wrong, or that I’m smart and they’re not. Far from it.

@clayroutledge @Chris_arnade nails this problem without realizing it in his book Dignity.

Haidt, Murray, Sowell, and Herman also nail it.

It’s WEIRD vs Holistic all the way down. @clayroutledge @Chris_arnade Here’s Arnade, stating the problem in a nutshell.

WEIRD culture values intellect, education, credentials, achievement.

Others value family, neighborhood, community, place, home.

1/ I heartily endorse and encourage everyone to read The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by @JonHaidt and @glukianoff. It speaks truth to power. But...IMHO it is deeply flawed. 2/ The book is a huge step in the right direction. It calls out the cognitively distorted thinking of the illiberal progressive social justice left that dominates current western culture.