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Sacred Science: When Questioning Became Dangerous
Manage episode 494946487 series 2800364
We dive deep into the psychology of collective obedience during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining how fear, authority, and group dynamics influenced behavior on a massive scale. Michael Aponsis' paper "Six Feet of Separation from Reality" serves as our guide for understanding how societies fell in line with unprecedented uniformity.
• The COVID-19 response characterized as a "global obedience experiment" where policies spread alongside the virus
• Comparison to Stanley Milgram's obedience studies, with pandemic compliance driven by internal fear rather than direct commands
• How fear served as the primary engine for compliance, creating visceral rather than rational responses
• The transformation of science into "sacred science" where questioning became taboo
• Matthias Desmet's concept of "mass formation" explaining how isolated, anxious populations gravitate toward unifying narratives
• The shift from seeing obedience as following orders to "emotional obedience" where moral pressure drives compliance
• The costs beyond restrictions: loss of intellectual humility, curiosity, and interpersonal trust
• People reduced to potential threats rather than fellow humans, fundamentally changing social dynamics
• The dangerous elevation of obedience as the highest virtue and questioning as harmful
• Aponte's call to action: normalizing dissent, embracing nuance, and rebuilding tolerance for uncertainty
Please check out Michael Aponte's "Obedient Nation" series on the Thinking to Think podcast for more insights on this vital topic.
Support the show
🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals!
🔗 Follow us:
📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions:
- https://theintellectuallibrary.com/
- https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI
- https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b
📲 Let’s connect on social media!
- https://x.com/Thinking_2Think
Chapters
1. Introduction to Collective Obedience (00:00:00)
2. The Global Obedience Experiment (00:02:04)
3. Fear as the Compliance Engine (00:05:19)
4. From Science to Sacred Dogma (00:07:40)
5. Mass Formation and Emotional Obedience (00:10:34)
6. What We Lost: Trust and Freedom (00:14:40)
7. Reclaiming Our Minds Going Forward (00:18:10)
53 episodes
Manage episode 494946487 series 2800364
We dive deep into the psychology of collective obedience during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining how fear, authority, and group dynamics influenced behavior on a massive scale. Michael Aponsis' paper "Six Feet of Separation from Reality" serves as our guide for understanding how societies fell in line with unprecedented uniformity.
• The COVID-19 response characterized as a "global obedience experiment" where policies spread alongside the virus
• Comparison to Stanley Milgram's obedience studies, with pandemic compliance driven by internal fear rather than direct commands
• How fear served as the primary engine for compliance, creating visceral rather than rational responses
• The transformation of science into "sacred science" where questioning became taboo
• Matthias Desmet's concept of "mass formation" explaining how isolated, anxious populations gravitate toward unifying narratives
• The shift from seeing obedience as following orders to "emotional obedience" where moral pressure drives compliance
• The costs beyond restrictions: loss of intellectual humility, curiosity, and interpersonal trust
• People reduced to potential threats rather than fellow humans, fundamentally changing social dynamics
• The dangerous elevation of obedience as the highest virtue and questioning as harmful
• Aponte's call to action: normalizing dissent, embracing nuance, and rebuilding tolerance for uncertainty
Please check out Michael Aponte's "Obedient Nation" series on the Thinking to Think podcast for more insights on this vital topic.
Support the show
🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals!
🔗 Follow us:
📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions:
- https://theintellectuallibrary.com/
- https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI
- https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b
📲 Let’s connect on social media!
- https://x.com/Thinking_2Think
Chapters
1. Introduction to Collective Obedience (00:00:00)
2. The Global Obedience Experiment (00:02:04)
3. Fear as the Compliance Engine (00:05:19)
4. From Science to Sacred Dogma (00:07:40)
5. Mass Formation and Emotional Obedience (00:10:34)
6. What We Lost: Trust and Freedom (00:14:40)
7. Reclaiming Our Minds Going Forward (00:18:10)
53 episodes
All episodes
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