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Thursday, February 27, 2025

Jim O'Shaughnessy on RAW's 'Cognitive Relativism—Ahead of His Time'




Jim O'Shaughnessy

In 1975's "The Illuminatus! Trilogy," Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea introduced cognitive relativism—the idea that our beliefs heavily filter our perception of reality. Wilson's concept of "fnords" (hidden messages in media that trigger unconscious fear) symbolizes societal propaganda that most people are conditioned to ignore. His core insight is relevant in today's AI era: absolute certainty in any belief system kills intelligence—rigid belief systems trap us, whereas a flexible mind yields insight.





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