The Cult Within Empiricism

The Psychosis of Modernity- It's Right Under Our Collective Gnosis

Oct 17, 2023

The Transcendental Subject at the End of Time

The ‘Cult Within Empiricism’ refers to the prevailing societal mindset that prioritizes and deifies left-brain dominant methods as the preferred valid means of acquiring objective knowledge. While rooted in the scientific method, this "cult" often violently extends its perspective like an empire, marginalizing other forms of empirical wisdom. It operates with a vampiric tendency, draining the richness and diversity out of life's experiences by reducing them to objective data points.

Agent centric > Data centric

Definition:

empirical
/ɪmˈpɪrɪkl,ɛmˈpɪrɪkl/
adjective
based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

Ian McGilchrist and Hemispheric Dominance:

Ian McGilchrist's work, particularly his seminal book "The Master and His Emissary," serves as a critical lens through which to view the ‘Cult Within Empiricism’. McGilchrist argues that the left hemisphere of the brain, which is more analytical and detail-oriented, has become overly dominant in Western society. This left-brain dominance aligns closely with the ‘Cult Within Empiricism’, both promoting a reductionist, data-centric view of reality that often neglects the more holistic, context-sensitive insights offered by the right hemisphere.

Science is not categorically the Scientific Method:

While traditional science focuses on objective measurements and observations, the ‘Cult Within Empiricism’ often overlooks the empirical nature of subjective experiences, which are based on inner observations and millennia of human experience, hypothesis, evidence and peer review. This creates a false dichotomy between what is considered "scientific" and what is deemed "unscientific," despite both being empirical in their own right.

Example Usage:

"Though he was a brilliant researcher, his unwavering allegiance to the Cult Within Empiricism made him dismissive of spiritual experiences, which are, ironically, empirical in a different but equally valid way."

In Academia and Culture:

The ‘Cult Within Empiricism’ has a stronghold in academic institutions and cultural narratives, often acting as a gatekeeper that delegitimizes the various forms of knowledge. However, a growing number of interdisciplinary scholars and thinkers are challenging this narrow viewpoint, advocating for a more holistic approach that includes both objective and subjective wisdom garnered empirically.

In Popular Culture:

While the term is critical in nature, it serves as a wake-up call, encouraging a reevaluation of how we approach knowledge and understanding. As the limitations of a purely physical approach become more apparent, especially in the face of complex global challenges, the "Cult Within Empiricism" is gaining traction as a critique of this one-sided perspective.