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Independent Judgment and Introspection: Fundamental Requirements of the Free Society
Why don't the adults in the story of "The Emperor's New Clothes" support the boy who commented on the emperor's decidedly missing wardrobe? Why don't more people practice the independent judgment of that boy?
The answer is fear, real or imagined, of what might happen to them.
More often than not, our fears of expressing independent judgment stem from what others might think of us. Disapproval, maybe rejection, is the worst that might happen, yet the anxiety caused by self-doubt can be so strong as to blur our perception of the facts, thus preventing any expression of an independent judgment. When choices based on self-doubt build up over time, habits of perceiving reality through clouded lenses become established patterns of behavior. Seeing the world through the eyes of others, whomever those significant others may be, becomes the norm. Conventionality is the result.
Independent judgment is a fundamental requirement of the free society. Unless each adult citizen possesses a significant amount of self-esteem expressed as independent judgment, such a society cannot last.
This raises an additional question: What kind of psychology is required for the survival of free societies?
The author answers: one that correctly identifies reality--the world external to our minds, as well as our minds' internal contents and processes--to guide our choices and actions to live happy, healthy lives.
Free, unhampered market societies require citizens who possess an unhampered consciousness, that is, citizens who possess and practice a strong commitment to facts, expressed as independent judgment and independent action. To ensure that we develop and maintain an independent personality, and therefore will support a free society, we must learn the skill of introspection to identify and correct, or preferably prevent, mistaken thinking.
Flawed conclusions about life's events cause anxiety, thwarting and constricting our lives, often leading to dependence and unhappiness, which also often means a diminished likelihood of valuing or accepting individual freedom. The virtues of psychological independence are integrity, courage, and a refusal blindly to obey authority.
This book concludes that psychological independence and its monitoring skill, introspection, are indispensable prerequisites of the free society.
Independent Judgment and Introspection is based on the philosophy of Ayn Rand, the psychology of Nathaniel Branden, and especially the psychology of Edith Packer. Packer's concepts of core evaluation and introspection heavily influence this work.
The answer is fear, real or imagined, of what might happen to them.
More often than not, our fears of expressing independent judgment stem from what others might think of us. Disapproval, maybe rejection, is the worst that might happen, yet the anxiety caused by self-doubt can be so strong as to blur our perception of the facts, thus preventing any expression of an independent judgment. When choices based on self-doubt build up over time, habits of perceiving reality through clouded lenses become established patterns of behavior. Seeing the world through the eyes of others, whomever those significant others may be, becomes the norm. Conventionality is the result.
Independent judgment is a fundamental requirement of the free society. Unless each adult citizen possesses a significant amount of self-esteem expressed as independent judgment, such a society cannot last.
This raises an additional question: What kind of psychology is required for the survival of free societies?
The author answers: one that correctly identifies reality--the world external to our minds, as well as our minds' internal contents and processes--to guide our choices and actions to live happy, healthy lives.
Free, unhampered market societies require citizens who possess an unhampered consciousness, that is, citizens who possess and practice a strong commitment to facts, expressed as independent judgment and independent action. To ensure that we develop and maintain an independent personality, and therefore will support a free society, we must learn the skill of introspection to identify and correct, or preferably prevent, mistaken thinking.
Flawed conclusions about life's events cause anxiety, thwarting and constricting our lives, often leading to dependence and unhappiness, which also often means a diminished likelihood of valuing or accepting individual freedom. The virtues of psychological independence are integrity, courage, and a refusal blindly to obey authority.
This book concludes that psychological independence and its monitoring skill, introspection, are indispensable prerequisites of the free society.
Independent Judgment and Introspection is based on the philosophy of Ayn Rand, the psychology of Nathaniel Branden, and especially the psychology of Edith Packer. Packer's concepts of core evaluation and introspection heavily influence this work.
- GenresNonfictionPsychology
204 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2019
7 people are currently reading
798 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Kirkpatrick
5 books16 followersJerry Kirkpatrick is professor emeritus of international business and marketing at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), and is author of In Defense of Advertising: Arguments from Reason, Ethical Egoism, and Laissez-Faire Capitalism and Montessori, Dewey, and Capitalism: Educational Theory for a Free Market in Education. Inspired in high school to think about fundamental ideas, Kirkpatrick majored in philosophy as an undergraduate before pursuing his advanced degrees. He now writes a monthly blog at jerrykirkpatrick.blogspot.com, discussing, among other topics, his special interests in epistemology and psychology.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 6, 2019
“Independent Judgment and Introspection: Fundamental Requirements of the Free Society,” by author Jerry Kirkpatrick is a read that will have you re-thinking your past thoughts on independent judgment, how it impacts you and those around you, and living in a society that does not accept independent thinking and actions.
Kirkpatrick states “The aim of this book is to explore the nature of independent judgment and its relationship to the free society. Throughout the journey, we will find that psychology, especially the skill of introspection, plays a significant role in developing and maintaining independence in the individual and in generating the desire to live in a free society.”
Independent judgment is the ability and freedom to express one’s mind without the fear of what others will think of us, which might include disapproval, rejection and self-doubt. We all would like to think that we have the ability to say what we think without all the dreaded drama that comes with it, but sadly very few of us do. Choice and self-assertion are seen as a disruption of authority and disobedience. In reality, they are signs of developing self-esteem and personal identity.
Can independent judgment be taught? Yes, but it must start at an early age. Children, of course, need to be given love and support, but they also need to be given freedom, within limits appropriate to their maturity, to choose their own values. And they need to be allowed to learn from their mistakes.
The author discusses many theories and thoughts on independent judgment, one of which external control, is the belief that we know what is best for others and that we have the right to impose legislation, laws, regulations, and other edicts to force citizens to do or not do what the politicians think is best. External control psychology assumes and attempts to invoke, dependence. It is the real root of dictatorship.
Internal control psychology, on the other hand, is the foundation of independent judgment. It assumes that each of us controls our own destiny by choosing our values and behaviors. Interaction with others is conducted through reason and logic, that is, persuasion, rather manipulative behavior such as verbal, emotional or physical abuse which often starts in childhood.
I found Kirkpatrick’s book very informative, well researched with numerous examples and references. Even though it is only 206 pages it is a book one will need to read slowly to absorb the facts and information as it does read like a textbook.
Regarding the definition of a Free Society, it is stated that there are two requirements: a strong sense of self-esteem and a willingness to take personal responsibility for one’s life. Throughout the book the term, “correct perception” is used frequently. I have some difficulty with that term as who is to say what is correct? For me it is like saying “normal behavior.”
Sometimes independent judgment may go against the will of the majority or the convictions of family, friends, or colleagues, but toleration of such convictions is precisely what defines the free society and powers it to new heights of freedom and accomplishment. Giving in, succumbing to fear, wearing blinders, going along with the status quo, and other forms of compromising what we see, and are willing to say and do, thwarts happiness by undermining our sense of identity and compels us to resort to compensating behaviors.
“Independent Judgment and Introspection” is highly informative, factual and thought-provoking. Readers will love the food for thought and self-reflection provided by Jerry Kirkpatrick. I highly recommend this book.
Kirkpatrick states “The aim of this book is to explore the nature of independent judgment and its relationship to the free society. Throughout the journey, we will find that psychology, especially the skill of introspection, plays a significant role in developing and maintaining independence in the individual and in generating the desire to live in a free society.”
Independent judgment is the ability and freedom to express one’s mind without the fear of what others will think of us, which might include disapproval, rejection and self-doubt. We all would like to think that we have the ability to say what we think without all the dreaded drama that comes with it, but sadly very few of us do. Choice and self-assertion are seen as a disruption of authority and disobedience. In reality, they are signs of developing self-esteem and personal identity.
Can independent judgment be taught? Yes, but it must start at an early age. Children, of course, need to be given love and support, but they also need to be given freedom, within limits appropriate to their maturity, to choose their own values. And they need to be allowed to learn from their mistakes.
The author discusses many theories and thoughts on independent judgment, one of which external control, is the belief that we know what is best for others and that we have the right to impose legislation, laws, regulations, and other edicts to force citizens to do or not do what the politicians think is best. External control psychology assumes and attempts to invoke, dependence. It is the real root of dictatorship.
Internal control psychology, on the other hand, is the foundation of independent judgment. It assumes that each of us controls our own destiny by choosing our values and behaviors. Interaction with others is conducted through reason and logic, that is, persuasion, rather manipulative behavior such as verbal, emotional or physical abuse which often starts in childhood.
I found Kirkpatrick’s book very informative, well researched with numerous examples and references. Even though it is only 206 pages it is a book one will need to read slowly to absorb the facts and information as it does read like a textbook.
Regarding the definition of a Free Society, it is stated that there are two requirements: a strong sense of self-esteem and a willingness to take personal responsibility for one’s life. Throughout the book the term, “correct perception” is used frequently. I have some difficulty with that term as who is to say what is correct? For me it is like saying “normal behavior.”
Sometimes independent judgment may go against the will of the majority or the convictions of family, friends, or colleagues, but toleration of such convictions is precisely what defines the free society and powers it to new heights of freedom and accomplishment. Giving in, succumbing to fear, wearing blinders, going along with the status quo, and other forms of compromising what we see, and are willing to say and do, thwarts happiness by undermining our sense of identity and compels us to resort to compensating behaviors.
“Independent Judgment and Introspection” is highly informative, factual and thought-provoking. Readers will love the food for thought and self-reflection provided by Jerry Kirkpatrick. I highly recommend this book.
January 1, 2022
I am not happy with his unbalanced representation of all religion. His last chapter is a re-telling of the work of Edith Packer.
He emphasizes that Freud was doing true science by trying to understand mental illness. I have to agree to some extent. But Freud was also doing speculative metaphysics at the same time a practice which is the bane of intellectual inquiry.
He emphasizes that Freud was doing true science by trying to understand mental illness. I have to agree to some extent. But Freud was also doing speculative metaphysics at the same time a practice which is the bane of intellectual inquiry.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews