It’s an aphorism in English that “if everyone thinks alike, then someone isn’t thinking.” Nowhere is that more clearly visible than in what you said, and you’re right. When people stop thinking, they default to emoting. When people stop thinking and emote, that’s where extremism happens.
One of my favorite quotes is by Bertrand Russell: “Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth — more than ruin — more even than death. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.”
IMHO, anyone who seeks to get people to stop thinking simply wants power. You can’t destroy or subvert someone who thinks for themselves. The most you can do is kill them. If you want power over them, you have to get them to not think.
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Date: 5 October 2017 06:01 pm (UTC)It’s an aphorism in English that “if everyone thinks alike, then someone isn’t thinking.” Nowhere is that more clearly visible than in what you said, and you’re right. When people stop thinking, they default to emoting. When people stop thinking and emote, that’s where extremism happens.
One of my favorite quotes is by Bertrand Russell: “Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth — more than ruin — more even than death. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.”
IMHO, anyone who seeks to get people to stop thinking simply wants power. You can’t destroy or subvert someone who thinks for themselves. The most you can do is kill them. If you want power over them, you have to get them to not think.