Friday, June 30, 2017

FUNDAMENTALISM - An Intellectual Disorder?

Humans are religious animals; in that, we share ideologies with each other and form likeminded groups that clump around them whether of a theistic or secular nature.  Since starting this blog, I have been intrigued by our ideas and beliefs; how we came up with them and how they have shaped our understanding of reality and bestow an identity on those who adhere to them.

LEARNING AND REASONING

Our minds have the ability to conceptualize the world in which we live; that is, to develop concepts that identify thoughts about ourselves, our experiences, and what it all means. Reality or our perception of reality is largely ideologically based on both deductive and inductive reasoning processes. Our perceptions have been retained through a collective memory called history that we humans are capable of passing on to each successive generation; allowing us to learn and increase our knowledge.

As a species, humans continually reason and learn.  The only thing that stops a human from reasoning and learning is a dysfunction of the brain which is the result of some form of natural defect or some form of trauma that renders the brain incapable of retaining knowledge.  An intellectual disorder, by contrast, is a dysfunction of the learning process itself that can be caused by indoctrination or brainwashing.

As perception is geared to sense experience, perception can also be engineered to interpret experience via indoctrination or brainwashing. Ideologies that are presented as absolute truths are easily used to engineer perceptions which then interprets experience that shapes perception. This form of intellectual looping disrupts the learning/ reasoning process which is usually localized around a particular ideology.  In other words, a person can reason and learn normally until whatever experience or piece of information comes in contact with an indoctrinated ideology which automatically shapes the person's perception of that experience or information.  When the ability to freely reason is interrupted, learning from that experience or information cannot occur or it becomes grossly distorted.

Intelligent reasoning requires room for proof, if proof exists and room for doubt, should proof be lacking. In other words, reason and learning requires intellectual flexibility. A mindset that interferes with intellectual flexibility can be viewed as an intellectual disorder. The essential trademark of fundamentalism is its intellectual inflexibility or its absolutism regarding an ideological belief.

FUNDAMENTALISM

Fundamentalism, in general, does not require proof as a basis for reason.  It's major indicator is an unfaltering belief in an ideology's unquestionability. Attempting debate with an ardent fundamentalist will result in circular arguments based on a presumed infallible premise. It is this looping aspect of fundamentalism that defines it as an intellectual disorder.

Fundamentalism is not just the domain of theistic conservatives or scriptural literalist. Fundamentalism is found among conservative, liberal, and progressive ideologies of  every type; including, economic, political and theological ideologies. What allows ideologies to become prone towards fundamentalism is that every ideological belief is resistant to proof beyond reasonable doubt.

Consider some examples of the ideological concepts (beliefs) that fit this definition:

In theism, the concept of God.

In politics, the concept that democracy or a strong sense of patriotism and nationalism is essential to good governance and social order.

In economics the concepts of capitalism, communism, or socialism betters the lives of most people.

All of these concepts are ideological beliefs that have functionality in defining our experiences but cannot be proven to be absolute fact or truth by themselves.

The fundamentalist, however, equates belief in an ideology as proof of its absolute truth even when facts and events demonstrates its fallibility.  For the ardent fundamentalist, intellectual reasoning is the enemy. There is no room for doubt. Ardent fundamentalists  are so convinced of their ideological truths that they cannot entertain doubt or tolerate reasoned opposition to their fundamental ideology and are quick to demonize anyone who attempts to do so.

FEW ARDENT FUNDAMENTALISTS

Fundamentalism has become an ideology in its own right that attaches itself to other types of ideologies. Speculatively speaking, I suspect most who identify as fundamentalist are probably not ardent fundamentalists and personally have no problem entertaining doubt on a personal level.  What they probably are subject to is groupthink; of saying they are fundamentalist just to keep the peace.  They have learned to say the "right" things and vote the "right" way, but harbor personal doubts and are perfectly capable of reasoning if they "have to."  For example, if one is a Christian fundamentalist, one's biggest concern is not how God sees one,  but how other members of one's  group sees her or him.  If fundamentalists say the wrong things, are perceived as doing the wrong things, or voting the wrong way -  they fear they'll be labeled as disordered.  

FUNDAMENTALISM AND VIOLENCE

Fundamentalism, in its most ardent forms, tends towards violence when faced with criticism and doubt.  Fundamentalism is easily radicalized, as is seen in fundamentalist Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and even Buddhism.  On the political scale, fundamentalism in the form of patriotism and nationalism are equally prone to radicalization and violence.  Political ideologies in the United States, for example, have become so polarized between various types of conservative and liberal ideologies to have acquired the patina if not the substance of being fundamentalist in nature. 

The bottom line in any fundamental treatment of an ideology is its intransigence, its inability or refusal to reason and learn.  This is becoming and perhaps already is the death knell of the human species.  We cannot afford to become unreasonable in the face of undeniable facts.

The prophetic field of science is exposing us to the ignored obvious of the human causes of climate changes and species extinction, as are also the fields of economics and social science which are exposing us to the detrimental effects of economic and social inequality.  The doubling-down attitude expressed by various ardent theistic and political ideologues is indicative of fundamentalism at the height of unreason.   Fundamentalism is a disorder our world no longer can afford to entertain on a global level if we are to co-exist and survive as species.

Until next time, stay faithful.

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