Contra Paranoia Et Conspiratoria
posted by Gone | April 23, 2009
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IcerocketI have just found a sublime essay entitled ' The Paranoid Style in American Politics' which examines in some detail the influence of conspiracy theory and paranoia in American politics, coming to conclusions which have, I feel, a powerful implication for us all as people, not just in the sphere of politics, as the paranoid style is increasingly finding its way into spiritual expressions in our modern age...
One quote really stood out for me:
"The enemy is clearly delineated: he is a perfect model of malice, a kind of amoral superman—sinister, ubiquitous, powerful, cruel, sensual, luxury-loving. Unlike the rest of us, the enemy is not caught in the toils of the vast mechanism of history, himself a victim of his past, his desires, his limitations. He wills, indeed he manufactures, the mechanism of history, or tries to deflect the normal course of history in an evil way.
"He makes crises, starts runs on banks, causes depressions, manufactures disasters, and then enjoys and profits from the misery he has produced. The paranoid’s interpretation of history is distinctly personal: decisive events are not taken as part of the stream of history, but as the consequences of someone’s will. Very often the enemy is held to possess some especially effective source of power: he controls the press; he has unlimited funds; he has a new secret for influencing the mind (brainwashing); he has a special technique for seduction (the Catholic confessional).
It is hard to resist the conclusion that this enemy is on many counts the projection of the self; both the dieal and the unacceptable aspects of the self are attributed to him..."
Link is here: http://karws.gso.uri.edu/jfk/conspiracy_theory/the_paranoid_mentality/th...
Bruce
www.biroz.net
Comments
Are you still paranoid if they really are out to get you? ^_~
— Apr 24, 2009
Wow, very well written essay. I have to say I agree with much of it.
I have to say, however, that the 'normal course of history' is people making choices.
Of course, it is entirely true that the choices one can make can be limited by the choices of others, so I get what he means. But still, there is the inescapable fact that 'people in power' making bad choices is what has lead us here (that, and the populace letting them).
But I am certainly the first to agree that a compassionate, rather than a paranoid, interpretation of both history and current events is very much the cure for many of our ills.
"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
bogey men
— Apr 24, 2009
It is fairly common for individuals attending extended meditation retreats to experience varying degrees of 'paranoia.' ... their first reaction is usually negative... paranoia is 'bad'... as it turns out however, paranoia is symptomatic of ego's reaction to feeling threatened by the emerging 'authentic self.'... ego's grip on 'me' is loosening... turns out though, that 'losing your grip' is great!
Experience of paranoia is both useful and a 'good' sign that all is proceeding as it should.... as indeed it must , on the inescapable path to awakening... so, relax and try to enjoy the trip...
Lennon knew the skinny:
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, Let It Be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, Let It Be
Seven-of-Nine knew: "Resistance is futile."
Ego is a perennial foot dragger... gotta love it though... best way to be rid of it.
eserudy
Thank you both
— Apr 25, 2009
Both of what you say here is really well-timed information for me to read, so thank you.
For me, the march of history is fairly random. I can't really believe in a Secret Cabal of Darkness That Underlies Our Government because every little indiscretion of politicians always gets out. We always seem to hear about the spunk spilled on the intern's dress, or the break in of the Democratic comittee's office or whatever.
I also think of GW Bush's almost-choking-on-a-pretzel-incident in 2005, and imagine the conspiracies theories that would have exploded if he had choked to death. The Leftist Cabal Threatenting The Democracy Of America Destroys Bush and so on.
I've heard of a book called Pronoia, about the world secretly giving one benefits, which is an idea I like: I have experienced Joseph Campbell's notion of hidden guiding hands when following your bliss.
Bottom line I think the world is basically good, and that paranoia is, as you say, a function of the ego, not the world...
Bruce
www.biroz.net
pronoia
— Apr 26, 2009
interesting... a quote lifted from pronoia.net...while symptoms of Pronoia include sudden attacks of optimism and outbreaks of goodwill, the revived meme also included a caution. Pronoia, like paranoia, can cause dangerous irrationality if taken in massive doses... grounding and skill at surfing are key to making the most of an onslought of pronoia.
I would beg to differ about the caution... the awakened state clearly reveals that there are no mistakes... the author's caution presumes a 'me' .... confusion inherent in memetics, unfortunately....happily, once we wake up from the dream, only the body is left to reap the slings and arrows.... but suffering is no more... unless you revert to an earlier meaning of the word... to whit, 'to allow'... otherwise I find 'attacks of optimism and outbreaks of goodwill' a pretty good characterization of the symptoms... its only the ever-fearful 'me' what thinks its surfing.... interpret history any way that floats your boat... its still just shit happening...
Discriminating words never reach their mark... those who discriminate cannot see. Chuang Tzu..
eserudy
eserudy@gmail,com
On cautions
— Apr 26, 2009
Good point about the cautions and the 'me' there.
Though actually if I consider pronoia from the point of selfless service to others, it is perhaps better to have a little caution with pronoia since its rampant optimism might lead to danger which causes one to no longer be able to spread the ideas of pronoia selflessly to other people, and thus to increase their own chances of happiness and the sense of hidden guiding hands in their lives.
So a little caution might aid in 'spreading the word' as it were...
But that might still just be a 'me' thing! Ah how many levels can the ego navigate?!
Bruce
www.biroz.net
how many levels
— Apr 26, 2009
only one... that's 'me's' biggest worry these days... what AM I going to do after s/he wakes up and sees my limitations?... gotta DO something.. distract him with another brilliant insight... maybe get her to start blogging again... heard about this fantastic high energy new sight... phew!... gotta stay engaged... do something.. world needs me more than ever... no time to let him get swept away with spiritual transformation... pie -in-the-sky bullshit... blah, blah and blah... just had a great idea!... see ya...
eserudy
eserudy@gmail,com
