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social foo: A side thought about thoughts
Jun. 17th, 2013 12:55 pmA lot of pop psychology has taught us that if you think a "bad" thought, then you are a bad person, no matter how you act. That the fact that you don't act out every one of your thoughts is a kind of psychosis, a self-delusion.
Imagine! Does that mean that any person who doesn't throw themselves off a high place when the idea flickers in their mind is delusional?
The brain is full of possibilities. Part of being human is that I can choose which ones I act upon. To say that any dark thought is who I really am as opposed to the light acts done is to deny any element of choice, any free will or agency in humanity.
We can act one way until it becomes a habit, thus retraining ourselves to a new mode. We can even train our thoughts, so that we no longer linger on dark or disturbing ones. A lot of therapy focuses on such techniques to derail unhelpful cycles. Does that mean I am a hypocrite when I am earnestly persuing new thoughts and training myself to new actions? Is it best that I stick with the old habits or thoughts that were harming myself or others?
Why are restraint and courtesy no longer considered virtues?
Imagine! Does that mean that any person who doesn't throw themselves off a high place when the idea flickers in their mind is delusional?
The brain is full of possibilities. Part of being human is that I can choose which ones I act upon. To say that any dark thought is who I really am as opposed to the light acts done is to deny any element of choice, any free will or agency in humanity.
We can act one way until it becomes a habit, thus retraining ourselves to a new mode. We can even train our thoughts, so that we no longer linger on dark or disturbing ones. A lot of therapy focuses on such techniques to derail unhelpful cycles. Does that mean I am a hypocrite when I am earnestly persuing new thoughts and training myself to new actions? Is it best that I stick with the old habits or thoughts that were harming myself or others?
Why are restraint and courtesy no longer considered virtues?
