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How much do our '-isms' really matter? : Comments
By Andrew Prior, published 12/2/2009Most of us are just trying to find a way in life, trying to make sense of what’s going on, and find some point and purpose.
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But of all the “isms” of which I am wary, cynicism is the most troubling. At least religions have some elaborated, if not limited intellectual structure, and aim to give hope to their followers. Atheism, similarly is a fervent “belief” in the power of rationality. But cynicism is nothing more than a vacuous and reflexive doubting- not the doubting of skepticism, which queries the data, but a corrosive doubting of the motives, integrity and morality of the person seeking knowledge.
Cynicism, to me is not just intellectual laziness, but an inadequately developed sense of civility.
And most cynics say that they are just being humorous and that others should “lighten up.