“Moral posturing is how victory is decided”
October 15, 2019
By NZB3
“There is no such thing as debate anymore. Moral posturing is how victory is decided,” says Anarchist intellectual Dan McGlashan. For some time, and some more time to come, I must agree. What we may lament is the loss of a logical discourse where conclusions are reached and facts are respected. In a debate de jure two, or more, rival views compete to be the most factual, logical, evidence-based. The best argument wins and so do all involved. It’s win:win because even the thinker whose view has not prevailed has prospered by having their errors corrected.
Sophistry Rules
If you found that sentiment naive and hilarious I don’t blame you! Americans, in particular, only know of debate de facto. It’s the same at university debating societies in New Zealand too. Not debate but debate theatre is celebrated and encouraged; Not being logical and factual but appearing to be so is what generations of new students and public advocates strive to achieve. Primacy of the conscious matters more to them than existence itself; Perception is placed before truth. The aim becomes, not truth-seeking, but a wrestle to command enough of an unthinking mob to turn on and swamp the other guy who is trying to do the same to you.
Historically the scales between philosophy and sophistry tip back and forth in the world and in New Zealand. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were overcome by razzle-dazzle agents they called Sophists too. Enlightenment and science rise and fall with Dignity Culture. It was a Dignity Culture that delivered to us the British Enlightenment and its Classical Liberal thinkers. It was a Dignity Culture that fostered Ernest Rutherford (right) leading to our understanding of nuclear energy. Those days will come again.
Feels over Reals
Two out of three Moral Cultures think that debate as an institution is pure fantasy, a unicorn. They use the same word symbol, ‘debate’, to mean something else entirely as I have already said. The victor in such psudo-debates doesn’t need knowledge or a high IQ; What would that have to do with sophistry? The audience being impressed doesn’t require a high IQ either, indeed it would be a liability!
In place of ideas the low IQ people use proxies. The fact someone is on TV or in a suit or a lab coat or using big words or has a good music track in their documentary is proof enough of their supremacy. It’s a popularity show, it’s truthiness alone that counts. People scramble to show that they worship This God not That God and joust with others who are trying to do the same thing in reverse. The Gods in question are conclusions, they are positions taken, and they are worshipped by offerings of faith and shows of conviction. You can certainly get in trouble with these people for failing to condemn as much as you can applause for slapping around people in the out-group.
For a short summary of the ‘news’ item just imagine Paddy Gower as a small boy. He runs up to a condemned man locked in a pillory in the town square where people have already been throwing rotten cabbages at him. Wee Paddy runs up, yells “This is the news!” then slaps the guy on the head and runs away!- “Because it Matters”; NZB3
Sycophantic Dingbats
Here’s a little example that, added to McGlashan’s observation, culminated in this post. As his Mayoralty hung in the balance, Neil Holdom (New Plymouth District Mayor) took nothing for granted. He cleaned out his office and locker while the latest Local Government Election votes were counted.
“Mayoral powers running low – thanks so much for the last three years, what a ride.
“Office and locker all cleaned out.
“Hopefully I’ll get a recharge”- Holdom; Facebook
For those who regulate on intellect, who read and think for themselves, Holdom is clearly saying he hopes to be re-elected and is thankful for the term he has served. Like Cinderella, the spell of his time in the sun is about to run out of battery life. His powers turn back into a pumpkin at midnight. Will they be recharged? You get that.
Goes to show just how in-group and think-by-proxy people are though that so several did think he’d lost. Going by theatre alone, this humble talk and the act of clearing out an office symbolises failure. Loss. Apologies and humility are virtues in a Dignity Culture world but perceived only as weakness to everyone else. The mainstream are knee-jerk folks who think according to proxy.
Good innings bro..
Sad news mate !
I’ll give you a job as a tour guide mate
Many of the other comments could be taken either way but were talking of the past, not the future. Holdem’s post had created an atmosphere where he was the past mayor, not the future one. Just a little example from the every-day of how perception is trumping reality these days.
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