Principles vs. false prophets

Responsibility, to me, is examining one’s own thoughts, reflecting upon one’s own feelings, taking the time to understand the difference between impulses and genuine feelings, examining one’s own life experience in comparison to those of many others, and to determine, over time, a consistent set of principles to live by, and to be able to defend these principles, under scrutiny.

When uncorrupted and undistracted by negative influences, humans seem to do this quite naturally. It is within the parameters of our species to do so. One could argue that critical thinking, is, in fact, the precise point of life itself. To others, an alignment with an external symbol as a means of mimicking a belief system, is a good enough substitute. The latter is a form of instant gratification, whether it be a person, ideology, or organization, and leaves one vulnerable to false prophets.

Surrendering control of our own thoughts and feelings yields a much easier, faster path to the worst of human nature. The false sense of intimacy and safety, gained within a group dynamic based simply on the dynamic of the group, rather than a fundamental set of shared principles, is deceptive.

The experience of coming together for a greater good can either be a genuinely meaningful, productive experience, or like a drug fix for a junkie.

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Πηγή: standalone.substack.com