The problem with traditionalism is not the tradition. The problem with traditionalism is the recipients downstream the tradition who mistake the tradition as a source of truth and evidence. “So and so said” is not a presentation of evidence, it is a CLAIM, and unless you can explain how so-and-so arrived at that claim, it’s best not to parrot them at all – ever – lest you make idols of them.
Continue reading“Ideology feeds on and thrives on, as an object of loyalty and exaltation, the intensity of feeling that its adherents feel and embody, not on the veracity of the claims that an ideology makes or takes as given.”
Ideology does not need to be affirmed or demonstrated as being “true” in order for a human being to pledge loyalty to it. One is loyal to an ideology in proportion to one’s intensity and zeal for it. No conviction about the truth of ideological claims is needed to ground one’s endorsement of the ideology. Ideology feeds on and thrives on, as an object of loyalty and exaltation, the intensity of feeling that its adherents feel and embody, not on the veracity of the claims that an ideology makes or takes as given. Ideology does not need verifiable, truthful reasons to command loyalty. The fact that people choose to be (or feel they want to be) loyal adherents of an ideology is sufficient for vindicating an ideology as valid. The “truth” of an ideology lies merely in the positive regard and sentiments of those who uphold or follow it. Ideology…
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Mortimer Adler’s “How to Read a Book” left a big impact on me as a young reader. It shaped my ability to read intelligently and think critically to such an extent, I consider the steps outlined in it prerequisite to discussion. For this reason, I keep this old post pinned to the top of the page.
Here are the steps to good reading as outlined in this now classic liberal arts work:
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