In this regard we certainly could hope for a broader survey of various categories of the literature for the rise and fall of the specific piece of rhetorical arcana in question–“independence of mind”–and in that way one may hope to more rigorously and statistically chart the rise and fall of collective awareness surrounding a given idea.

Likewise and in my own opinion of equal interest and along the same theme one sees the complete demise as well of the related phrase that in a not too distant past represented the most golden of personal and civic compliments: that of the “principled individual”.

But then again this notion of individualism as anything other than a vulgar expression of consumerism in the context of abject materialism also constitutes a complete point of omission within our contemporary cognitive map.

The idea of this thing called an “idea”, or the mere suggestion of the absolute existence of that which can only be categorized as entirely intangible–such as set theory, platonic solids and numbers–have become anathema to the present day “mind”.

And while most everybody expresses a strong sense of confidence in their sensory capacity to correctly “perceive” the pressing contingencies within the spheres of their existence–of fast moving cars or the failures of their personal financial quest for “freedom” and so on–the very notion that one can “take into mind” a deeper truth such as an “organizing principle”, or a grand and robust system of theory that represents key aspects of actual reality etc. is anathema to the present day disposition of self that dominates among the “educated classes”.

While I’ve not personally performed the search, either via Lexus-Nexus or any other data base capable of generating a basic temporal graph, I’m quite certain that from the time of our own civil war to the present era the use of the word and verb “to apperceive”–as in “to take into mind” as pertains to the intangible domain–has long ago been completely supplanted and displaced by that of the verb “to perceive” which by its very definition only accepts as its “direct objects’ those things concrete and of the material world.

Our internal blindness thereby provided a possible easy index to track, the pathology promises to be our own undoing. As part of the Great Work by the Master Architect himself, it’s locus of causation and thus the argument that also seeks to cast blame should therefore direct the collective wrath toward the almighty “Iron Heel” of Jack London fame, or The Iron Fist” of G. Either way, the phrase “Gillette, the best a man can get” ought to be taken at face value. So very fishy as to be presumed Gill-Tee as charged, it was His mighty handy-work that has transformed the spectacle of American individualism into a farce.

If you think this thesis offends your intellectual sensibilities, then imagine how I feel. Personally. Best wishes toying with the Cow-Folk. Moooooooo…….N. Gillett 08/22/17

Based on my early experience, I came to the conclusion that very few can endure the isolation of thinking on their own. The default way humans think is to adopt herd belief systems for the basic reason that they cannot stand isolation. It is perhaps the greatest of human fears.

It explains to my satisfaction why believers cannot be reasoned with no matter how strong the logic and evidence. The moment they start to question and doubt, those feelings of isolation creep in. It’s a void they cannot cross.