The term denotes a class of haters -- those who hate logic.
There is another term for this condition: Misology.
Definition: Misology is the fear, distrust or simply hatred of reason; a hatred of argument, reasoning, or enlightenment.
Origin of MISOLOGY: Greek misologia, from misein+ -logia –logy. First Known Use: 1833. Known As: anti-intellectualism.
Misology is a hatred of logic. An investigation into the hate-logic-disorder is a topic for more than a few posts. In this post, we focus briefly on the consequence for an individual and society. Stated plainly, the consequence is:
Nonsense.
"Those who call for Nonsense will find that it comes." (Lewis, C. S., That Hideous Strength, 1965, p. 42)
"Nonsense," of course, means "no-sense," or no meaning, meaninglessness. And if uttered or given expression, it issues in gibberish, goobledegook, bafflegab, or some other strain of nonsense. The written expression of nonsense may be found in the language of the scholar, academic, professor, theologian, or preacher. Whether uttered by the educated or non-educated thinker, it is and remains nonsense.
Examples abound, but to summarize its essential characteristics, it consists of contradictions, evasions, straw-man arguments, flattery, deceptive complex questions, or “paradoxes”. This is not an exhaustive list of characteristics; deception is a deep ocean. (Jeremiah 17:9)
Logic Law of Non-Contradiction
This much is clear: any language that consists of contradictions, violating the logic law of contradiction (Not both A and Not-A) is not and cannot be anything other than a lie, a falsehood. To believe a contradiction is one definition of “stupidity”. Men believe falsehoods about all sorts of things. This tendency to believe what is false is the key idea in commercials, many films, propaganda, ideologies, cults, politics, and religions (not to mention, gossip, rumor, slander, etc.). (Note: By falsehoods here, we mean logical contradictions.)
Repetition of a logical contradiction has the psychological effect of clothing it in the coziness of familiarity and leads to, if not belief, the suspension of disbelief in the face of meaningless scribblings or irrational utterances. Thus, "those who call for Nonsense will find that it comes."
Perhaps the following bit of linguistic gibberish will illustrate some of its important elements: How to Achieve Happiness.
An Illustration
Assume, for the sake illustration, that someone offers a Free Workshop on Happiness, conducted by a Trained, Certified, Licensed, Experienced Motivational Expert in Behavior Modification, with Graduate Degrees in Psychology, Philosophy of Religion, Divinity, Counseling, Education, and Metaphysics.
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Here is the Commercial.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have nothing to sell. You do not have to believe a word I say or write. I invite you to check out my facts, facts based on scientific evidence, well documented in scientific journals and in many reputable college textbooks. Scientific facts are facts based on observation in controlled settings of laboratories or research centers using the strict, objective criteria of the scientific method. If you object to the findings of science, or dispute its discoveries, you will have to go elsewhere or seek someone else to settle the matter. My purpose here and now is not to settle a controversy anyone may have with science, or scientific fact, or the scientific method. I’m here to explain how one may achieve happiness in the midst of cruel, often unjust, painful incidents and circumstances that chance, mere chance (some would say “bad luck”) visits on not a few of us or those dear to us. In other words, I’m here to tell you how I achieved happiness and maintain a happy attitude in the face of many obstacles as a model for you to follow or adapt to your own particular style and situation. If you are interested in the research that validates the model of happiness I will propose this day, please feel free to purchase any of the publications, booklets, and CD’s at the back of the room -- discounted 50% this day only for those in attendance.
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In an interview with this imagined Seminar Instructor, let us assume that he offers the following in response to questions about the origin and history of the seminar.
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I struggled to invent an appropriate title for my model of behavior modification. At first, I thought to name it “Positive vs Negative Power Thinking.” I thought this too long a title, plus there was already a model called “The Power of Positive Thinking” that flourished among the religious for a time then faded. I did not want my model to be associated with failures. I thought also that a name that motivates self-transformation would be more attractive as well as more persuasive to the skeptic. Finally, after much thought, and several survey research polls, I settled on The Power of Paradox: How to Transform your Thought and Life by and through Paradox. (PoP)
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The commercial continues:
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Now most think of contradictions as something to be avoided, judged, chastised, or corrected -- forgetting that contradictions are ubiquitous and often times found to be useful. I know many of you have used contradictions to make others feel better about themselves perhaps in an embarrassing or difficult situation. We use contradictions to create memorable, happy experiences for our children during the Holiday Seasons of Christmas, Easter, and so forth. We lie to our children to make them happy, don’t we? And they are happy because they believe the lie. Suppose belief in a contradiction cured cancer. Your spouse, child, friend, or a neighbor has cancer. You want that person to be happy. If he believes a lie about a miraculous cure for cancer found only in the jungles of Peru (but available now in a local store) and thereby creates a measure of hope and happiness in his otherwise terminal state, would you not lie deliberately i.e., communicate a false, always false, proposition about the cure? You may wonder at the power of paradox (contradiction) to achieve anything like hope and happiness. If you do, you underestimate it. Precisely, the psychological desire for these desired states or conditions is the key element in the Power of Paradox Model to achieve human happiness.
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The Noble Lie?
The commercial and purpose sound like a commendable effort to achieve human happiness.
Those who seek nonsense will find and embrace it provided it promises them meaning and hope, i.e., something to believe in wholeheartedly. However, how can meaninglessness (nonsense) provide meaning, much less true meaning?
Belief in a paradox may be a source for hope but not a basis true meaning about anything including happiness.
Paradox means quite simply "a belief in contradictions."
Perhaps the reader of this post will identify or detect other examples of nonsense in the illustration?
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