Jeff wrote:
>
> To me this is another example of "cultural immersion" we assume
> people who polute are normal. We all pollute and we are normal,
> right? How often de we question the cultural definition of mental
> health.
I wouldn't call going along with cultural norms "crazy" or "mentally ill".
Throughout history people have done many strange things as a cultures and
thought it perfectly normal. My definition of mentally ill hinges on ones
ability to function within society, so I acknowledge the circular thinking.
I agree that people do things and believe things that seem to test
rational thinking to its limits, but we are a social animal and so
belonging is often more important than intellectual honesty, consistency,
personal ethics, etc. I also agree that there are many examples of
cultural immersion, where people do things without any thought to how
reasonable or appropriate the actions are, other than that "everyone else
is doing it". "Normal" is not necessarily ecological, intelligent,
ethical, or anything else.
Eric Storm
