The psychology of the thing
Monday 30th March – 10.30am
Many leading scientistis have said that we know next to nothing about this virus. And least examined of the many aspects of its existence is its psychology. You will scoff. Psychology needs a mind you will say, and the virus doesn't have one. Already within a moment a vast contradiction becomes apparent. If we know next to nothing about this virus, how can we say it doesn't have a mind? This suggests a wide and certain knowledge.
If we know enough to be certain is doesn't have a mind does this anyway relieve us of the responsibility to consider that it might? Obviously not.
With this dangerous killer circling the world, can it really be sensible to never ask what motivates the virus when it gets up in the morning? After the cornflakes have been consumed what purpose in life does it seem to have? What is its plan? What drives it in its relationships? What sort of childhood did it have? How was it treated by its parents? What were the circumstances of its upbringing? It is a source of amazement to me that these questions, clearly fundamental to any understanding of the virus, have not only not been answered, but not even asked!
Just as in the distant past the psychology of the criminal mind was never considered, so now we seem to think it unnecessary to address the psychology of the virus. How can we ever hope to come to an understanding of it if we ignore its thoughts, its feelings as it stumps around the globe killing without a care, when a careful consideration of these questions will surely give us vital clues as to its motivation and modus operandi.
Not only is there silence on this issue from scientists, there is a yawning lacuna from the prosecuting authorities. I have yet to hear one peep out of the Director of Public Prosecutions about the virus. Apparently it is to be allowed to stalk the land with impunity, infecting people left, right and centre without so much as a 'by your leave'.
Many leading scientistis have said that we know next to nothing about this virus. And least examined of the many aspects of its existence is its psychology. You will scoff. Psychology needs a mind you will say, and the virus doesn't have one. Already within a moment a vast contradiction becomes apparent. If we know next to nothing about this virus, how can we say it doesn't have a mind? This suggests a wide and certain knowledge.
If we know enough to be certain is doesn't have a mind does this anyway relieve us of the responsibility to consider that it might? Obviously not.
With this dangerous killer circling the world, can it really be sensible to never ask what motivates the virus when it gets up in the morning? After the cornflakes have been consumed what purpose in life does it seem to have? What is its plan? What drives it in its relationships? What sort of childhood did it have? How was it treated by its parents? What were the circumstances of its upbringing? It is a source of amazement to me that these questions, clearly fundamental to any understanding of the virus, have not only not been answered, but not even asked!
Just as in the distant past the psychology of the criminal mind was never considered, so now we seem to think it unnecessary to address the psychology of the virus. How can we ever hope to come to an understanding of it if we ignore its thoughts, its feelings as it stumps around the globe killing without a care, when a careful consideration of these questions will surely give us vital clues as to its motivation and modus operandi.
Not only is there silence on this issue from scientists, there is a yawning lacuna from the prosecuting authorities. I have yet to hear one peep out of the Director of Public Prosecutions about the virus. Apparently it is to be allowed to stalk the land with impunity, infecting people left, right and centre without so much as a 'by your leave'.
You're the first to raise this crucial question. If we could only delve into its motivations we might have of chance of negotiating. What do you think should be put on the table here?
ReplyDeleteA six-week course of intensive psychotherapy.
ReplyDelete