DE-CONFLATING DOXA & COMMON SENSE
Doxa
An abstract conglomerate representing widely held beliefs or assumptions that people generally conflate with reality itself. It encompasses societal norms, shared perceptions of reality, and the conventional wisdom that most people accept without much questioning.
Common Sense
Generally understood as practical, everyday knowledge that should be known without much assistance. It’s what people believe to be obvious or self-evident truths based on their cultural and social context. I distinguish between the two because common sense comes loaded with an expectation that anyone should be able to understand with basic human reasoning, while Doxa just describes a social reality of commonly shared beliefs that can include shared experiences.
CHALLENGES WITH DOXA
Conformity Over Critical Thinking
Conformity Over Critical Thinking
Conformity Over Critical Thinking
If a community defers to collective, social truth as an absolute authority more than as just a starting point, diversity of thought and critical thinking is stifled.
Not only does the ostracized individual build resentment due to lack of expression and respect, but a lack of diverse thought and gravitation towards a singular dogma kills every empire that chooses to employ it.
Resistance to Change
Conformity Over Critical Thinking
Conformity Over Critical Thinking
Doxa has a lot of human psychology to conquer to be changed. People need to be brave enough to challenge the doxa, people need to be brave and open minded enough to hear it, then time must be allowed for change to ripple naturally through society, which always takes longer than expected.
The internet may help facilitate some swifter responses.
Ideological Competition
Conformity Over Critical Thinking
Ideological Competition
Different groups or individuals might have competing versions of Doxa. When these conflicting beliefs vie for validation or resources, it can lead to social and ideological conflicts.
Our society in many ways has descended into full blown informational warfare, where various groups shameless try to manipulate you to adopt their version of reality. Fun stuff.
Avenue For Manipulation
Conformity Over Critical Thinking
Ideological Competition
While mass manipulation is worse by numbers, manipulation in private relationships is one of the darker and more pervasive realities of our society.
Since Doxa isn't anything immediately provable and more represents what "normal" people think of someone, any one person can claim to any other person that "normal people wouldn't like this" or "normal people wouldn't say that."
NAVIGATING DOXA
Critical Reflection
Encouraging Flexibility
Critical Reflection
Encouraging people to critically reflect on their own beliefs and question whether they align with reality or are influenced by Doxa social pressures can promote more thoughtful decision-making and reduce conflicts. That's what I'm trying to do with this blog!
Open Dialogue
Encouraging Flexibility
Critical Reflection
Facilitating open dialogue where differing perspectives can be discussed and debated helps to reconcile conflicting views and expand understanding beyond Doxa. It's important to hear people out beyond our anchor judgments of right or wrong.
Promoting Reasoning
Encouraging Flexibility
Encouraging Flexibility
Prioritizing evidence-based, or at least well structured, reasoning over unexamined common sense can help in making more informed decisions and adapting to new information. Your sweet spot for socialization should be discussing shared beliefs that harmonize with your own reality and evidence you can perceive.
Encouraging Flexibility
Encouraging Flexibility
Encouraging Flexibility
Recognizing that beliefs and norms are subject to change can help individuals and societies adapt more effectively to new insights and evolving contexts. While flip-flopping as a negative connotation in many political contexts, it's important for us all to acknowledge that change as the result of legitimate growth is always welcomed.