Philosophical Cafe - A world full of contradictions

Throughout all ages and continents, cultures have exhibited a preference for so-called dichotomous modes of representation, dividing the world into two, diametrically opposed worlds. In Western European culture, the oppositions between body and mind, woman and man, black and white are part of an almost all-encompassing dichotomy from which the world is understood.

Regular polarization around a stalemate
Far from being necessary, this dichotomous representation dominates our thinking. The discussions surrounding Black Pete, natives and immigrants, people and elite, practice and policy, or citizens and state are understood as dichotomies by proponents and opponents, both sides of the discussion. As a result, such discussions regularly end up in polarized conflicts around gridlock.

Conscious thought energy needed
The tricky thing is that dichotomies are ineradicable. From an early age children learn to think in opposites, there are special booklets for them and they are a standard part of most religions. In itself, there is nothing wrong with that. It is only when children see one side of the opposition as positive and the other as negative that a polarized, dichotomous, worldview emerges. And whatever the negative consequences of that, at least it gives young people direction in their thinking and a grip on reality. Therefore, in later life it takes a lot of conscious thinking energy to free oneself from dichotomous views, and it probably never quite succeeds.