The purpose of this blog is to provide a fresh context to some of the many social and ethical issues which divide us. A fresh perspective appears by asking: what distinguishes propaganda, self-deception, and ideology from critical thought–in religions, new and old, politics, economics etc? Besides the blog there is a full website with articles about propaganda, critical thought, terrorism etc. at propagandaandcriticalthought.com/home/
While myths are often associated with some religious beliefs or narratives, like the creation of the universe in seven days, they also operate in other subjects like politics, story-telling, or economics. An example of an economic myth is “trickle-down economics.” Whatever wealth accrues to corporate or individual billionaires is said to overflow into the hands […]
In any sales presentation or debate, presidential ones included, a spew of facts and options may be delivered with such speed that, intentionally or not, listeners and viewers are given insufficient time to absorb and reflect. The phrase “Would you vote for or buy from this person?” reflects unfairly on many, though not all, presenters […]
If you scan faces at a political convention, you will see some which don’t look very with-it; and others who seem very intelligent and alert. Yet many, if not most, variously succumb to mass suggestion. Why? Perhaps because intellectuals can be controlled, as much as any of us, by unexamined assumptions, by fear, and by […]