The term “common sense” is sometimes used to refer to conclusions or positions on topics that nearly anyone with a working brain would, and by implication, should, come to given all of the relevant details of a situation. “Common sense”, however, is difficult to find in an increasingly fast-paced, technology-world filled with facts and claims of misinformation levied against the minority viewpoint on issues that matter to us all.
In the construction of particular positions, the biases of profit, maintenance of revenue streams and reinforcing business relationships can come together to create a false narrative that nevertheless, to its proponents, must be carried forward, sometimes seemingly at all costs, however irrational the position.
The important word phrase in the prior paragraph, “false narrative”, should not be confused with ” a narrative false to me because it differs from my opinion”, but rather “a narrative that is inherently untrue” due to the way that the world works. The many-truths culture of today leads to nonsensical and fruitless narratives of competing ideas, somethings with neither side basing their positions or arguments on empirical reality. When those in power abuse the trust of those without less power via manipulation of the facts, they destroy the fabric of reality and replace it with something unreal.
Since those in power have decided that their constructivist views are the new reality, they deny objective reasoning and science in favor of the manipulation of public perception. This will and perhaps already has led to one or more catastrophes from which our species or even out planet may not easily recover.
Popular rationalism is the school of thought via which an increasing number of members of the public are demanding wholescale changes to how we impact our world. Our food, water, and air. Our medicines. Our education. Our ways of doing business. How science progresses. Public policies that impact everyone. Rights, liberties and freedoms, including the rights to dissent without censorship. Valuation of of the dignity of human beings, other species, and our planet.
The public is fed up. Popular Rationalists want to RETURN to a reality-based existence in which facts, reason, logic and depth of character matter. It is compatible with science; it is incompatible with arts of persuasion and propaganda.
We’ll share more on this at another time.
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