Mi'sen

Contemplative field-note: [A friend suggested I share something I said in private. I was hesitant - because it sounds incoherent to me - but here it is, lightly edited] 1

Too many practitioners abandon critical thinking and rely on appeals to authority of various shapes and sizes. This is a big component as to how individuals ignore cognitive dissonance and become subjects of ideologies. 2

The 'psycho-social relationships' between the individual, the group of individuals, and the 'space of interaction' are complex and shape each other. (This is not dissimilar to relationships between objective:subjective:intersubjective) 3

When an individual abandons critical thinking, some of the worst human traits take over: diligent practice is replaced by a sort of mentalism supported by dogma, and you know how the rest goes. 4

It's clear to anyone that critical thinking is by no means sufficient for human fulfilment, well being, growth, and all that good stuff. 5

However when people actively reject cynicism & analysis - which isn't all that uncommon in 'spiritual' types - forces hidden to them shape their worldview & behaviour, which necessarily remain unseen until such a time that they're willing to think and look at their world. 6

It should be clear that critical thinking is one of many factors: one can be very very smart and still be an empty vessel being ridden around by an ideological parasite, a mimetic puppet master, so to speak. 7