It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

As we peered out at the Great Wide World recently, it appeared to us that society was going stark, raving mad. In fact the more I think about it, society’s probably been insane for a long time already. So, as we pondered why – we looked up the definition of insanity, to see how well it fit with what we’ve been witnessing in our little Republic, (America) :

insanity

noun

in·san·i·ty in-ˈsa-nə-tē 

-insanity, madness, and craziness are terms that describe a spectrum of individual and group behaviors that are characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity can be manifest as violations of societal norms, including a person or persons becoming a danger to themselves or to other people.

- extreme folly or unreasonableness

- extreme foolishness or irrationality

Collective insanity: 

a state in which a group, rather than just one person, displays behaviors, beliefs, or actions that deviate significantly from rationality or societal norms. Where a group collectively engages in actions or holds beliefs that, when viewed individually are irrational and absurd. Collective insanity usually manifests as mass hysteria, mob mentality, groupthink or extreme ideologies. It involves the dynamics and interactions within a group, where shared beliefs or behaviors override rationality or critical thinking.

Yep, looks about right, at least from our perspective, so while we were having coffee this morning we decided to see what “Hal” had to say about it. For you youngsters, HAL 9000 was an artificial intelligence and the main antagonist in Arthur C. Clarke’s “Space Odyssey” series. He was one of the lead characters  in the 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” that’s where I first met him. He was the AI that controlled the Discovery One spacecraft and interacted with the it’s crew, (“I’m sorry Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”) 

“In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

We posed a simple question to Hal. “What would Collective Insanity look like in our society?”

Hal’s response:

Collective insanity will manifest through a number of interconnected factors, including political polarization, social division, misinformation, economic instability, and the erosion of trust in the government. While speculative, here are some ways it might unfold:

1. Tribalism: Increasing polarization along political, social, and cultural lines will lead to the formation of entrenched ideological camps where individuals identify more strongly with their tribe than with the national community. This polarization will fuel animosity, distrust, and dehumanization of those who hold differing views.
2. Confirmation Bias: With social media and elite owned news services, people are increasingly exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs. This creates an echo chamber, where individuals are insulated from diverse perspectives and are more susceptible to misinformation and extreme ideologies.
3. Political Instability: Perceptions of political injustice, corruption, and disenfranchisement will erode trust in the government and fuel feelings of alienation and resentment. This will lead to protests, civil unrest, and a loss of faith in the political system.
4. Economic Inequality: Economic inequality, job insecurity, and disparities in wealth and opportunity will exacerbate social tensions and deepen divisions between socioeconomic groups. Economic hardship and social dislocation will contribute to feelings of resentment, and injustice, creating fertile ground for radicalization and extremism.
5. Identity Politics: Debates over issues related to race, gender, religion, immigration, and politics will become highly polarized and emotionally charged, leading to culture wars and identity-based conflicts. Fractures along these fault lines will deepen societal divisions and exacerbate feelings of resentment, fear, and alienation.
6. Erosion of Democracy and the Rule of Law: Attacks on democracy, and the rule of law will undermine the foundations of the country and weaken the social contract that binds citizens together. When individuals lose faith in the fairness and integrity of the political system, they will be more inclined to seek radical solutions outside of established channels.

Look familiar?  Much of it’s happening right now in a city near you. In the United States, there have been numerous periods of intense political polarization and social upheaval throughout its history, but the country has always demonstrated resilience and the ability to overcome these challenges through democratic process, dialogue, and nonviolent means. The Civil War was a classic example of how collective insanity and intense polarization caused civil unrest, conflict and madness.

The irrational madness and insanity we’re seeing, reminds me of a Paulo Coelho parable:

A powerful wizard, who wanted to destroy an entire kingdom, placed a magic potion in the well from which all the inhabitants drank. Whoever drank that water would go mad.
The following morning, the whole population drank from the well and they all went mad, apart from the king and his family, who had a well set aside for them alone, which the magician had not managed to poison.
The king was worried and tried to control the population by issuing a series of edicts governing security and public health.
The policemen and inspectors, however, had also drunk the poisoned water, and they thought the king’s decisions were absurd and resolved to take no notice of them.
When the inhabitants of the kingdom heard these decrees, they became convinced that the king had gone mad and was now giving nonsensical orders. They marched on the castle and called for his abdication.
In despair the king prepared to step down from the throne, but the queen stopped him, saying:
‘Let us go and drink from the communal well. Then we will be the same as them.’
The king and the queen drank the water of madness and immediately began talking nonsense.
Their subjects repented at once; now that the king was displaying such wisdom, why not allow him to continue ruling the country?

Slow Down…