[see also: “Constructionism<\/a>“]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matrix?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You may know the movie. People are kept asleep in some ‘real reality’ while in their minds, they are artificially entertained in a world of make-belief. This is a constructed, digital second-life where they get fulfilling experiences. Some of them want real lives, and so their quest begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To almost all the inhabitants, this digital world is the only reality they ever know. They don’t see it as constructed. Everyone (almost) is content with the situation because<\/em> everyone is content without asking deep questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ‘real reality’ is what they awaken to when getting out of the digital one. As said, most never do, prevented by a mental wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Voodoo culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ‘Voodoo’ is just taken as an example here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a Western rational viewpoint, any voodoo culture seems a culture of constructed reality. There are, in this scheme, many such cultures. Only a culture based on rationality can seemingly make the distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So far, so good. It seems logical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is logical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But with little argumentation, we can state the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In each of the above instances, pointing ‘those who know’ at their ignorance \u2013 or is it plain nonchalance \u2013 in most cases does not lead to any transcending result at all<\/em>. Remarkable. This is the “We don’t go into that” or the “Leave me alone” or some other petty excuse \u2015 no time, no expertise, no anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wall.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Does it feel like digital Matrix?<\/p>\n\n\n\n We in the rational West are living to a substantial degree in a culture of constructed reality. Underneath all the above lies a dual Cartesian negation: 1) of mind-body unity, and 2) of non-conscious, subconceptual processing. Behind both lies the basic negation of the total-person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That doesn’t mean we’re worse than other parts of the world. We might try being less arrogant or more rational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Humanistic failure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the basic negation, present-day humanism \u2013 as a philosophy, an organization, a flock of individuals \u2013 fails us immensely. It should be about the total-person, of course. As far as I can see, it is hardly or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Present-day humanism needs to wake up or be discarded. [see: “Humanism with a Vengeance<\/a>“]<\/p>\n