Dying on the Sword of Ideology // VP #14
How to create more whole perspectives in a complex world.
Here’s something I didn’t expect this week. I found a deeply shared common understanding with covid czar Anthony Fauci (who I disagree on much with).
In a recent interview Fauci candidly speaks about mistakes made managing the pandemic.
But, he also shares a piece of wisdom that I believe is critical for creating strong opinions and better understanding of our world today.
Fauci shared that one of the moments of his career he’s most proud of was finding a golden thread of truth in his most vocal and avid critics during the HIV epidemic.
Here’s his quote:
“One of the best things I did in my life was put aside their theatrics and their attacks on me and started listening to what they had to say. And what they had to say was not just a kernel of truth; it was profound truth. It was mostly all true.”
“So I have always felt when there are people pushing back at you, even though they in many respects are off in left field somewhere, there always appears to be a kernel of truth – maybe a small kernel or a big segment of truth – in what they say. One of the things that we really need to do is we need to reach out now and find out what exactly was it that made them push back. Because so many people cannot be completely wrong.”
I know we learn this in Kindergarten but it’s more important than ever to repeat.
There’s something to learn from everyone, especially when the perspective is further away or completely opposite to what you believe.
Yes, everyone has a right to an opinion. I think that’s important. Encountering conflicting opinions gives us an opportunity to gain perspective and insight.
However, I feel like where people go wrong is they place an exclusive judgement on what opinions hold moral high ground over others.
When you claim some kind of moral high ground through the opinions you hold you’re locking in an incomplete perspective.
Let’s take the climate and green energy movement as an example. Green energy activists push for trillions of dollars in support and stimulus for new sustainable energy technologies including EVs, solar, and batteries.
Awesome, sustainable energy is great. We all want to live in a more beautiful, clean world.
Then they say that hyper-compliance is imperative to reduce our carbon emissions by 2050 and save the planet.
Anyone who disagrees with these statements is anti-science, and responsible for the murder of an undetermined (but always large) amount of people in the future.
Woah, ok. That’s a big jump. Now that this movement has established its position as the moral high ground people can no longer help to aim the end result through criticism.
Yet, nobody holds exclusive rights to a morally correct position. Most topics are far too complex and nuanced.
The green energy movement holds a nasty secret a the bottom of its supply chain. One of the main minerals required in large quantities for all rechargeable batteries and other “green-tech” solutions is cobalt.
And, the majority of the cobalt in the world comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through a practice called “artisanal mining” which is anything but artistry.
Just look at this picture below. The foundation of the green tech revolution is child labor, slave labor, exploitation, death, dismemberment, and pain.
So, how does this fit into the moral hierarchy of the pro-green revolution group? Do they believe it’s a necessary evil in order to save more lives? Are they aware of this ugly scar on the movement?
There seems to be an edge that gets crossed when people begin to identify with their opinions. There’s so much right about believing in building a cleaner, less polluted economy. Yet, this belief gets taken too far, becomes ideological, and then its supporters lose the ability to form a nuanced perspective.
Are you reading this newsletter issue on an iPhone?
Then you’re in some way responsible for what’s happening in the Congo today. I’m typing this issue on a laptop with a rechargeable battery. I too am responsible for what’s happening in the Congo.
Does this make me a bad person? I don’t know. I feel incredibly conflicted about it. However, I do believe that if the sustainable energy revolution depends on cobalt mined by children then it’s impossible to maintain a belief that it’s morally superior to fossil fuels.
Creating a sense of moral superiority because you hold certain beliefs only leads to a rigid, ideological perspective.
Our world has plenty of that. What we don’t have as much of is people dedicated to getting curious when they encounter beliefs, world-views, opinions, and values that conflict with their own.
What’s “right” and “just” for you can be oppressive and defeating for others. That’s just the nature of life.
So instead of locking your opinions in a rigid cage, I encourage you to go down the rabbit holes of differing opinions. Go all the way down. Explore other opinions and cultures. Try to assess their values and how they come to certain opinions.
Why does someone support the second amendment? It’s not because they want more school shootings in America…
Why does someone support the war in Ukraine? It’s not because they’re itching for a nuclear war with Russia…
Being skilled at getting curious when encountering conflicting opinions allows you to see the world more clearly. It’s easier to see where the incentives point. How certain behaviors and opinions get rewarded. And why people cling on to certain beliefs.
Do you die on the sword of ideology? Martyring your self-determination to simplify your perspective?
Your ability to develop strong opinions is directly associated with your ability to understand alternate perspectives simply because alternate perspectives make up a foundational part of the understanding of your own perspective.
If you do not understand why people do not believe what you believe then I argue you do not fully understand what you believe.
Creating a more full understanding shines light on the flow of information and culture in our current time. You get to better see how cultural incentives (among others) form and what direction they point. How people’s opinions get rewarded and what feedback loops they participate in.
So, I encourage you to search for that golden thread of increased understanding when you encounter beliefs and opinions that conflict with your worldview.
Get curious,
-Jared