The madness which has gripped for a couple generations now, a sizeable portion of our population, that is....
We try to understand through critical thinking, logic, and deductive reasoning, what has happened to so many formerly rational people. Perhaps just a simple look at certain periods of madness recorded in history, may give us a clue .
George Santayana did say.. : "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
What has apparently afflicted many people, and seems to have claimed possession of a major American political party, has happened many times in history, and it has a title, namely, "THE PURITY SPIRAL", which seems to afflict those who long to be superior persons, by becoming a small, gullible pebble on a boringly mundane beach !
Do you see a pattern? For once, AI seems to have it right. Please read the article before contributing...
AI Overview
A "purity spiral" refers to a dynamic where individuals within a group increasingly adopt more extreme positions to appear more committed to the group's ideals, often at the expense of nuanced or moderate views. This phenomenon, also described as "moral outbidding," can lead to a breakdown in productive dialogue and critical thinking. Examples of purity spirals include historical events like the French Revolution and the Cultural Revolution in China.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Reward for Extremity:
In a purity spiral, individuals feel compelled to express more radical views to demonstrate their loyalty and commitment to the group's ideology.
Punishment for Moderation:
Those who express doubts, nuance, or moderation are often criticized or ostracized, discouraging open discussion and critical thinking.
Groupthink:
This dynamic can create a form of groupthink where the desire for social acceptance and conformity overrides individual judgment and independent thought.
Consequences:
Purity spirals can lead to the erosion of civil liberties, the breakdown of social cohesion, and the potential for violence or oppression, according to The Conversation.
Historical Examples:
The French Revolution, with its periods of intense radicalism and violence, and the Cultural Revolution in China, with its focus on ideological purity and mass denunciations, both illustrate how purity spirals can play out in real-world historical contexts.
