February 21, 2005

DARWINISM AS GNOSTICISM:

The Danger in President's Bush's Conviction He's Right (Tom Palaima, 2/21/05, History News Network)

The freedom we are supposedly spreading in Afghanistan and Iraq is proof of the president's big thinking and big doing. America is leading a "march of freedom" at home and abroad. The administration is puzzled, even annoyed, that many Europeans and Americans are skeptical about such claims. What is going on here?

Part of the answer can be found in the political reality of "positive illusions." All human beings and human societies need to construct myths to believe in and live by. According to Dominic Johnson's recent book Overconfidence and War, it is a Darwinian fact that our leaders become our leaders because they have an extraordinary capacity for "positive illusions" and can inspire us to believe in these illusions and act upon them.


For the unitiatiated, that's like a "Divine truth."

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 21, 2005 6:22 AM
Comments

For a Darwinian fact, it's a rather ahistoric explaination of human leadership.

Posted by: jd watson at February 21, 2005 1:13 PM

What is this 'History News Network?' And is it some part of the therapy or did the inmates at the asylum cook it up on their own?

Posted by: Bart at February 21, 2005 1:54 PM

Hmm, are you implying that Bush's illusions were more illusive than Kerry's?

Each, presumably, considered his own to be positive.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at February 21, 2005 5:22 PM

Harry:

Yes, but only one is.

Posted by: oj at February 21, 2005 5:24 PM

Positive or illusive?

Posted by: creeper at February 22, 2005 8:33 AM

positive, the other illusion--yours, Kerry's and Harry's--is destructive.

Posted by: oj at February 22, 2005 8:47 AM

I don't know. I consider myself quite an optimist most days. Planning for a bright future and all that, illusory though it may be.

No destructive plans or schemes, not even pending.

Posted by: creeper at February 22, 2005 5:53 PM

creeper:

Hiding out in the most religious corner of Europe....

Posted by: oj at February 22, 2005 6:16 PM

We wacked communism as a relevant world-hitorical force (under Reagan) then implemented elections in Agfghanistan and Iraq. Still, the Left yelps about conservative presidents and their vain illusions. Isn't it customay to trash talk before the game? Not after it's over and you've lost?

Posted by: Tom at February 22, 2005 8:26 PM

"Hiding out in the most religious corner of Europe...."

Some very nice tax benefits, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

None of my co-workers go to church, btw. Still work pretty hard though, danged if I know how that happens.

Posted by: creeper at February 23, 2005 3:02 AM

"Hiding out in the most religious corner of Europe...."

Some very nice tax benefits, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

None of my co-workers go to church, btw. Still work pretty hard though, danged if I know how that happens.

Posted by: creeper at February 23, 2005 3:03 AM
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