The Age of Unreason

Throughout history, eras demanded their own unique labels, “Dark Ages;” ” Middle Ages-Renaissance;” “Age of Enlightenment and Reformation;” “Age of Romantisicm;” and more recently, “Industrial Age;” and “Technology Age,”  but it’s seventeenth century philosophy, or the  ”Age of Reason” which calls to me now as I ponder today’s Age and reflect on this previous age distinguished by, as Wikipedia’s site establishes, the belief that, in principle (though not in practice), all knowledge can be gained by the power of our reason alone [rationalists taking mathematics as their model] and those who rejected this theory, believing that all knowledge has to come through the senses, from experience [empiricists choosing the physical sciences for their model], standing in stark juxtaposition to our current age characterized by communication and absence of privacy, among many other things.

Many agree with me our current age might aptly be described as “The Age of Unreason.“  As Susan Jacoby, author of  “The Age of American Unreason,”  sees those shocking polls showing most Americans can’t list the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment or find Iraq on a map as confirming her suspicion  “the scales of American history have shifted heavily against the vibrant and varied intellectual life so essential to a functioning democracy.”

In her review of Jacoby’s book, Laura Miller cites Richard Hofstadter’s 1963 classic, “Anti-Intellectualism in American Life” (a clear inspiration for this book), who described anti-intellectualism as “older than our national identity” and deeply rooted in our history.  She also cites Jacoby who thinks the old American distrust of those who devote themselves to “ideas, reason, logic, evidence, and precise language” has been worsened by the conditions of contemporary life. There is, Jacoby writes, “a new species of semi-conscious anti-rationalism, feeding on and fed by an ignorant popular culture of video images and unremitting noise that leaves no room for contemplation or logic.” People never read books, they can’t concentrate on anything significant for more than a minute or two, and as a result they don’t really think anymore. Lulled by the “pacifier” of “infotainment,” their civic and political decisions emerge from a confused welter of laziness, reckless emotion and prejudice.

 I concur with Jacoby’s belief :

The chief manifestations of this newly virulent irrationality are the rise of fundamentalist religion and the flourishing of junk science and other forms of what Jacoby calls “junk thought.” The mentally enfeebled American public can now be easily manipulated by flimsy symbolism, whether it’s George W. Bush’s bumbling, accented speaking style (labeling him as a “regular guy” despite his highly privileged background) or the successful campaign by right-wing ideologues to smear liberals as snooty “elites.” Unable to grasp even the basic principles of statistics or the scientific method, Americans gullibly buy into a cornucopia of bogus notions…[dot, dot, dot] 

I believe it’s fair to say, most of us don’t even begin to understand the religions or philosophies we defend.  Uncomfortable with this current American Society of Unreason, which has its treacherous aspects, I would like to issue this as your call to read, research, investigate, debunk your own ignorance and inform your community, encouraging them to debunk for themselves!  If we don’t, we’re destined to continue facing unreasonable beliefs which lead to dangerous villifications, which subsequently involve harm to ourselves and others.  I could substantiate this last statement with headline horror stories and other nightmares which never make it to even the back pages, like children performing mock decapitations of other children who voiced beliefs differing from their own; but those of you who have your own sagas don’t need more and you who have managed to avoid unreasonable de-humanizations may not believe these things could happen in America.  Instead, I leave you with this plea, as much as possible, live in this moment; more often than you have, challenge insanity and unreason; and seize daily opportunities to educate yourself and others.  One last thing, wherever you can, share yourself and your gifts with those differently abled than yourself, whether they’re terminally ill, marginalized by their different abilities, or just different from you–those who just wouldn’t normally appear on your radar screen. 

With conscious intention, we can transform our culture.

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