This post is really wonky. I want a place to save this, so this blog post is it. I just discovered that at least one of my links to a Perplexity search lead to nothing, i.e., the Q&A were simply gone. I have no idea why. Fortunately I posted the lost Perplexity Q&A here, so I still have access to it at that blog post. I just cannot access it at Perplexity itself.
Two links to the following new set of Q&A about pragmatic rationalism - I do not know how I wound up with two links:
Q1: Based on the politics expressed at Dissident Politics, https://dispol.blogspot.com/ , is Germaine at that site far left, left, centrist or something else in his political leaning or ideology? Germaine claims to adhere to what he calls pragmatic rationalism, which he characterizes on the basis of cognitive biology and social behavior as an anti-biasing, anti-ideology ideology, e.g., https://dispol.blogspot.com/2019/06/pragmatic-rationalism-anti-biasing-anti.html and https://dispol.blogspot.com/2019/12/pragmatic-rationalism-short-simple.html .A1: Germaine, the author of Dissident Politics, does not fit neatly into traditional political categories such as far left, left, or centrist. Instead, he identifies with pragmatic rationalism, a philosophy he describes as an anti-biasing, anti-ideology ideology based on cognitive biology and social behavior. This approach aims to minimize biases and ideological influences in decision-making, focusing on rational analysis and empirical evidence.Key Points of Germaine's Pragmatic Rationalism:
Anti-Biasing: Germaine emphasizes the importance of recognizing and mitigating cognitive biases that can cloud judgment and decision-making processes.Anti-Ideology: He critiques the dogmatic adherence to political ideologies, suggesting that such adherence can lead to irrational and biased outcomes.Cognitive Biology: His philosophy is grounded in understanding human cognition and behavior, aiming to align political and social decisions with biological and psychological realities.Empirical Evidence: Decisions should be based on observable facts and data rather than ideological commitments. [that's only partly correct - decisions will be based on that plus personal morals, biases, loyalties to a variable extent because that cannot be avoided - perfectly rational politics is not possible for humans, but self-awareness helps reduce reducible irrationality, but to some degree "irrationality" cannot be completely eliminated and if that was possible, humans would not be human]
Given these principles, Germaine's political stance can be described as:Non-Traditional: He does not align with conventional political spectrums but rather seeks to transcend them through a rational, evidence-based approach.Pragmatic: His focus is on what works in practice, rather than what fits into a particular ideological framework.Skeptical of Ideologies: He views ideologies as potentially harmful when they become dogmatic or when they ignore empirical evidence. [that's a key point: ideologies foster and rationalize reality disconnects and reason flaws when empirical evidence and/or sound reasoning is inconvenient]In summary, Germaine's political leaning or ideology at Dissident Politics is best characterized as pragmatic rationalism, which positions him outside the typical left-right political spectrum, focusing instead on a method of analysis that seeks to be as unbiased and rational as possible.Q2: Germaine relies on his understanding of cognitive biology, social behavior and the moral philosophy of lying and deceit ( https://dispol.blogspot.com/2019/10/book-review-lying-moral-choice-in.html ) to derive pragmatic rationalism as an evidence-based, pro-democracy, pro-public interest political ideology or mindset. At this link, https://dispol.blogspot.com/2024/10/pragmatic-rationalism-explained-by.html , Perplexity search referred to pragmatic rationalism as a meta-ideology. Is it a meta-ideology?A2: Germaine's pragmatic rationalism can indeed be considered a meta-ideology. Here's why:Transcends Traditional Ideologies: Pragmatic rationalism does not align with conventional political ideologies but rather seeks to provide a framework for evaluating and navigating them. It aims to be a method of analysis that transcends the biases and dogmas inherent in traditional political thought.Focus on Rationality and Evidence: It emphasizes rational analysis, empirical evidence, and cognitive biology to inform political and social decisions, positioning itself as a higher-order approach to understanding and addressing political issues.Anti-Biasing and Anti-Ideology: By explicitly aiming to be anti-biasing and anti-ideology, pragmatic rationalism critiques and seeks to mitigate the influence of ideological biases, making it a meta-ideology that critiques and evaluates other ideologies.Pro-Democracy and Public Interest: Germaine's approach is described as pro-democracy and pro-public interest, suggesting that it seeks to serve the broader societal good by promoting rational decision-making processes.
In summary, pragmatic rationalism, as articulated by Germaine, functions as a meta-ideology by providing a framework for evaluating and navigating political ideologies, focusing on rationality, evidence, and the public interest, while explicitly critiquing and aiming to mitigate the biases inherent in traditional political thought.Q3 and 4: Pragmatic rationalism is based on Germaine's understanding of aspects of cognitive biology that can lead people to false beliefs, especially in the face of demagoguery and propaganda deceit and emotional manipulation. Factoring prominently into his thinking, he points to human cognitive traits such as unconscious biases, mental heuristics, prejudices, self-esteem, self-identity etc., and aspects of human social behavior, e.g., family, group or tribe loyalty, strictures of social institutions and sociological phenomena as Germaine discussed here https://dispol.blogspot.com/2020/03/book-review-invitation-to-sociology.html . Pragmatic rationalism also asserts core moral values of (i) fidelity to facts, true truths and sound reasoning, even when they are inconvenient, (ii) support for secular democracy, including reasonable compromise, and (iii) a dominant focus of service to the public interest over special interests., i.e., rebalancing power from special interests to the public interest. The goal of pragmatic rationalism is to formulate a meta-ideology or mindset that is designed to reduce human susceptibility to demagoguery, irrational emotion-fomenting propaganda, crackpot reasoning and the like. What else could pragmatic rationalism include to improve the effectiveness of the pragmatic rationalist meta-ideology or mindset?A4: To improve the effectiveness of pragmatic rationalism as a meta-ideology or mindset, several additional elements could be incorporated:1. Critical Thinking and Media Literacy:Incorporate Critical Thinking Frameworks: Pragmatic rationalism could benefit from integrating established critical thinking frameworks that help individuals evaluate information critically. This includes teaching people to recognize logical fallacies, understand cognitive biases, and assess the reliability of sources 2.
Media Literacy: Promote media literacy to help individuals discern between factual reporting, opinion pieces, and propaganda. This would involve understanding how media shapes narratives and the importance of seeking out diverse sources of information 2.2. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy:Emotional Awareness: Encourage the development of emotional intelligence to recognize and manage one's own emotions and those of others. This can help in understanding how emotions are manipulated in propaganda and demagoguery 2.
Empathy Training: Foster empathy to understand different perspectives, reducing the likelihood of falling into ideological echo chambers and promoting more constructive dialogue 4.
3. Self-Reflection and Ideological Awareness:
Self-Reflective Practices: Implement practices that encourage individuals to reflect on their own ideological beliefs, understanding how personal experiences, upbringing, and environment shape their worldview 4.
Meta-Ideological Awareness (MIA): As suggested by the concept of MIA, pragmatic rationalism could include self-reflective questions about how personal ideologies affect interpretations of information, promoting a more detached and nuanced approach to political and social issues 2.
4. Ethical Decision-Making:Ethical Frameworks: Integrate ethical decision-making models that emphasize the importance of considering the broader implications of actions, not just immediate practical outcomes. This could involve principles from utilitarianism, deontology, or virtue ethics to guide decision-making beyond mere expediency 1.
Moral Reasoning: Encourage the development of moral reasoning skills to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, ensuring decisions are not only pragmatic but also morally sound 1.5. Community Engagement and Dialogue:Promote Dialogue: Foster environments where open, respectful dialogue is encouraged, allowing for the exchange of ideas and the challenging of one's own beliefs in a constructive manner 4.
Community-Based Learning: Implement community-based learning initiatives where individuals can engage with diverse groups, promoting understanding and reducing tribalism 2.
6. Continuous Learning and Adaptation:Lifelong Learning: Encourage a mindset of continuous learning and adaptation, recognizing that knowledge and understanding evolve over time. This includes staying informed about new research in cognitive science, sociology, and political theory 4.Feedback Loops: Establish mechanisms for feedback and self-correction, ensuring that pragmatic rationalism remains a dynamic and evolving approach rather than a static ideology 5. [great idea - need to cogitate on how to do that]
7. Institutional Reforms:Educational Reforms: Advocate for educational systems that teach critical thinking, media literacy, and ethical reasoning from an early age, embedding pragmatic rationalism into the educational curriculum 2.Political Reforms: Support reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and public interest in political processes, reducing the influence of special interests 3.
By incorporating these elements, pragmatic rationalism can become a more robust meta-ideology, better equipped to navigate the complexities of modern political and social landscapes, reduce susceptibility to manipulation, and foster a more informed, empathetic, and rational public discourse.
Q7: You suggest establishing mechanisms for feedback and self-correction, ensuring that pragmatic rationalism remains a dynamic and evolving approach rather than a static ideology. How can one do that?A7: To ensure that pragmatic rationalism remains a dynamic and evolving approach, several mechanisms can be implemented:
1. Feedback Loops:Government Responsiveness: Instead of focusing solely on feedback loops, emphasize government responsiveness as a broader concept. This involves not just responding to citizen feedback but integrating it throughout the entire policy and governance cycle 1.Citizen Engagement: Encourage active citizen participation in policy-making, ensuring that their feedback is not just heard but acted upon, fostering a sense of inclusion and accountability1.2. Self-Correction Mechanisms:
Visibility and Traceability: Design policies with characteristics that make the government's role in providing benefits visible and traceable, enhancing public trust and understanding of policy impacts 3.Political Evaluation: Implement regular evaluations of political processes and outcomes to identify areas for improvement and correction 2.
Political Competition: Foster a competitive political environment where parties and politicians are incentivized to adapt and improve based on public feedback and electoral outcomes 2.
Freedom of Speech: Protect and promote freedom of speech to allow for open critique and discussion of policies, enabling self-correction through public discourse 2.
3. Policy Feedback Theory:Policy Characteristics: Design policies with characteristics that facilitate positive feedback loops, such as longer durations of benefits, immediate delivery, centralized and streamlined policy delivery, and minimal administrative burden 3.
Target Populations: Consider the social construction and power dynamics of target populations when designing policies to ensure inclusivity and responsiveness 3.
4. Civil Society Engagement:Building Power: Civil society organizations should strategically build power among target populations to influence policy and alter existing power dynamics 3.
Messaging and Organizing: Coordinate messaging and organizing strategies to shift policy discourse and public perceptions, facilitating long-term policy wins 3.5. Continuous Learning and Adaptation:Lifelong Learning: Encourage a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, recognizing that knowledge and understanding evolve over time 3.
Feedback Loops in Education: Integrate feedback loops into educational systems to teach critical thinking, media literacy, and ethical reasoning from an early age 3.6. Institutional Reforms:Transparency and Accountability: Advocate for reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and public interest in political processes, reducing the influence of special interests 3.Responsive Governance: Cultivate a whole different set of attitudes and behaviors among government actors and citizens to foster responsive governance 1.
By incorporating these mechanisms, pragmatic rationalism can evolve into a more robust and adaptive meta-ideology, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective in addressing the complexities of modern political and social landscapes.
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