"And above all, it hates to learn." ... and learns to hate.
Great article!
The main thing I would want to add is to discourage people from looking only to others, and not to themselves.
I have noticed the AAVE phrase "woke" being incorrectly (ab)used by self-identifying progressives who aren't themselves actually "woke", but want to use the term to dismiss other people as their “lessers”.
I've come to recognize that I have a hard time understanding individualism as a political philosophy.
I believe I would be happier if I did, as it would make my life easier as I would fit in better within Canadian/Eurocentric/Western society. I don't feel that an individual human is the appropriate unit to think of as far as understanding intrinsic value. I don't subscribe to Anthropocentrism, and I see intrinsic value in more-than-human beings as well as differently animated beings. Even within the human species I see more value in thinking in terms of peoples (plural -- groups of people belonging to different communities, ethnicities, religions, nationalities, etc.) than individuals.
I understand that a belief in individualism is extremely common, and wonder if that is a better philosophy to explore than narcissism where it is easier for people to point away from themselves and assume it is only a problem other people have?
Agreed, I think individualism and narcissism are two paths to explore similar problems. However I like the emotions that the word narcissism evokes.
Also, to another point you make, my politics is definitely being shifted by my relationships with animals. Recognizing the value and role of non humans in our society.
I would add that the practice of applying algorithms on all our platforms leads to narcissism. Or is it the other way around? How can we consider conflicting ideas, if we are insulated from them?
It is certainly a mutually reinforcing effect. However once a user gains the literacy of how to program their relationship with the algorithm they can counter this somewhat. Assuming they have the wherewithal to counter the larger narcissist culture, which is far from easy.
An excellent essay, Jessie. This does wonders for my confirmation bias. You have put into words something I have known for half a lifetime. That curiosity, a desire to keep learning, to admit to not having the answers and being vulnerable enough to being open to new ideas is the path forward.
The world I know is full of people with absolute faith in their beliefs that a thinking person can shoot holes in all day long, wasting their breath.
One of the best articles on how individual narcissism and communally-held conspiracy theories go hand in hand I've ever read. I also appreciate the hopeful light at the end of the dark tunnel of self-absorption: 'Democracy, by contrast, is a pedagogy of mutual learning. It depends on the premise that we don’t know everything, that others can teach us, and that collective intelligence is superior to individual dominance.'
A pretty good summation of the narcissistic personality and how it functions....or malfunctions.
But it leaves out the economic and social conditions that have worked hard to produce the isolated individualism that results in narcissism....when it doesn't result in extreme poverty, exclusion, mental illness and addiction.
Narcissists are the success stories of unregulated neoliberal capitalisms last 4-5 decades. The hoards of homeless, the immigrants fleeing social collapse in Latin America and the Middle East, the drug addicted young, are the losers of that same system.
And for me.......I strongly suspect that you almost have to be a narcissist to be pleased with your economic success in a system that completely robs so many of any chance of the good life. So lets' not be content with psycologizing our current situation...let's also factor in the so called economy...and a political system where oligarchs have to cater to obscene wealth to stay in power.
Let's encourage curiousity, learning, listening and humility for sure. But let's not narcissistically convince ourselves that will be enough..........in a world already owned by big foreign capital and monsters like Elon Musk. We need to check out the Narcissists political philosophy....and how much of their capital goes to maintaining a system where competing for control is de rigour.......and learning the human skills of sharing, innovation, collaboration, cooperation and movement building...are marginalized as 'bleeding heart wokism'..........or worse.
Narcissim is a disease. Unregulated capitalism doesn't think so.
Thank you. The “celebration of ignorance”, the notion of a npc, creating a society where many have nothing to lose never ends well. The social “ingenuity gap” can be narrowed by shifting world views, leveraging institutions and technology. The locus of self is one’s environment and associations with others. Avoiding catastrophic dehumanization requires an acceptance of self in safe relationships. Hedonistic nihilism is the undoing of the narcissist.
this is a "greatest hits" for the ages! My favorite part is the end wherein we see the ultimate paradox, no matter what "side" we're on: humility requires (as you said) "means staying open. Not just to facts, but to feelings. To contradiction. To the inconvenient and unfamiliar." which is, paradoxically, how "every side" feels.
Actually, using name calling instead of empathy is part of narcissism, however you spell it. Narcissists can't tolerate disagreement.....they're doing everything for the upvotes.
Speak out against their view of anything.......and you can expect attack.
At the core of the narcissist however, I suspect there's an emptiness....we can watch the Donald. He'd be lost without his ability to come up with a new bad idea each morning...
he has to perform. And ignore the consequences....it's a special kind of mental illness really.
I know that....its a deep malfunction.....started very early in child development I suspect. But its more complex than a lack of love......often its too much of what passes for love...I often wonder?
Did Trump get too much attention as a child, or none to speak of?
I do suspect there's always an issue of some kind of very early abuse mixed into the creation of a narcissist....the insatiable need for love, with no ability to return it is a characteristic.
I ran into a couple in my early days as well........both fooled me in the short term, made my life hell before I ditched them.
"And above all, it hates to learn." ... and learns to hate.
Great article!
The main thing I would want to add is to discourage people from looking only to others, and not to themselves.
I have noticed the AAVE phrase "woke" being incorrectly (ab)used by self-identifying progressives who aren't themselves actually "woke", but want to use the term to dismiss other people as their “lessers”.
https://r.flora.ca/p/woke-racism
----
I've come to recognize that I have a hard time understanding individualism as a political philosophy.
I believe I would be happier if I did, as it would make my life easier as I would fit in better within Canadian/Eurocentric/Western society. I don't feel that an individual human is the appropriate unit to think of as far as understanding intrinsic value. I don't subscribe to Anthropocentrism, and I see intrinsic value in more-than-human beings as well as differently animated beings. Even within the human species I see more value in thinking in terms of peoples (plural -- groups of people belonging to different communities, ethnicities, religions, nationalities, etc.) than individuals.
I understand that a belief in individualism is extremely common, and wonder if that is a better philosophy to explore than narcissism where it is easier for people to point away from themselves and assume it is only a problem other people have?
Agreed, I think individualism and narcissism are two paths to explore similar problems. However I like the emotions that the word narcissism evokes.
Also, to another point you make, my politics is definitely being shifted by my relationships with animals. Recognizing the value and role of non humans in our society.
The idea that narcissism can be activated in groups is a really interesting one.
I would add that the practice of applying algorithms on all our platforms leads to narcissism. Or is it the other way around? How can we consider conflicting ideas, if we are insulated from them?
It is certainly a mutually reinforcing effect. However once a user gains the literacy of how to program their relationship with the algorithm they can counter this somewhat. Assuming they have the wherewithal to counter the larger narcissist culture, which is far from easy.
Yes, but it's probably human nature to choose the path of least resistance. And people enjoy seeing their opinions validated.
An excellent essay, Jessie. This does wonders for my confirmation bias. You have put into words something I have known for half a lifetime. That curiosity, a desire to keep learning, to admit to not having the answers and being vulnerable enough to being open to new ideas is the path forward.
The world I know is full of people with absolute faith in their beliefs that a thinking person can shoot holes in all day long, wasting their breath.
One of the best articles on how individual narcissism and communally-held conspiracy theories go hand in hand I've ever read. I also appreciate the hopeful light at the end of the dark tunnel of self-absorption: 'Democracy, by contrast, is a pedagogy of mutual learning. It depends on the premise that we don’t know everything, that others can teach us, and that collective intelligence is superior to individual dominance.'
A pretty good summation of the narcissistic personality and how it functions....or malfunctions.
But it leaves out the economic and social conditions that have worked hard to produce the isolated individualism that results in narcissism....when it doesn't result in extreme poverty, exclusion, mental illness and addiction.
Narcissists are the success stories of unregulated neoliberal capitalisms last 4-5 decades. The hoards of homeless, the immigrants fleeing social collapse in Latin America and the Middle East, the drug addicted young, are the losers of that same system.
And for me.......I strongly suspect that you almost have to be a narcissist to be pleased with your economic success in a system that completely robs so many of any chance of the good life. So lets' not be content with psycologizing our current situation...let's also factor in the so called economy...and a political system where oligarchs have to cater to obscene wealth to stay in power.
Let's encourage curiousity, learning, listening and humility for sure. But let's not narcissistically convince ourselves that will be enough..........in a world already owned by big foreign capital and monsters like Elon Musk. We need to check out the Narcissists political philosophy....and how much of their capital goes to maintaining a system where competing for control is de rigour.......and learning the human skills of sharing, innovation, collaboration, cooperation and movement building...are marginalized as 'bleeding heart wokism'..........or worse.
Narcissim is a disease. Unregulated capitalism doesn't think so.
Brilliant essay. Quality I have come to expect from you Jessie. I completely agree BTW.
Thank you. The “celebration of ignorance”, the notion of a npc, creating a society where many have nothing to lose never ends well. The social “ingenuity gap” can be narrowed by shifting world views, leveraging institutions and technology. The locus of self is one’s environment and associations with others. Avoiding catastrophic dehumanization requires an acceptance of self in safe relationships. Hedonistic nihilism is the undoing of the narcissist.
Salvador Dali got it right in *1937* - an ominous year, no?
< https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/dali-metamorphosis-of-narcissus-t02343 >
I suspect he was inspired by his personal experience....
This was a perfect article for how I am feeling right now. Thank you.
this is a "greatest hits" for the ages! My favorite part is the end wherein we see the ultimate paradox, no matter what "side" we're on: humility requires (as you said) "means staying open. Not just to facts, but to feelings. To contradiction. To the inconvenient and unfamiliar." which is, paradoxically, how "every side" feels.
Narcissism may come from childhood trauma, from a culture of parenting that does not fill kids needs. Have you read anything from Dr Darcia Narvaez?
narcissism spelled backwards is asshole
Actually, using name calling instead of empathy is part of narcissism, however you spell it. Narcissists can't tolerate disagreement.....they're doing everything for the upvotes.
Speak out against their view of anything.......and you can expect attack.
At the core of the narcissist however, I suspect there's an emptiness....we can watch the Donald. He'd be lost without his ability to come up with a new bad idea each morning...
he has to perform. And ignore the consequences....it's a special kind of mental illness really.
you've not been married to one, then. See https://www.chumplady.com/you-are-not-the-boss-of-me/. they leave a legacy of damage and you can't love them out of it. God knows numberless women have tried
I know that....its a deep malfunction.....started very early in child development I suspect. But its more complex than a lack of love......often its too much of what passes for love...I often wonder?
Did Trump get too much attention as a child, or none to speak of?
I do suspect there's always an issue of some kind of very early abuse mixed into the creation of a narcissist....the insatiable need for love, with no ability to return it is a characteristic.
I ran into a couple in my early days as well........both fooled me in the short term, made my life hell before I ditched them.