Conflict resolution Quote by Stephen R.C. Hicks
““Nasty political correctness as a tactic then makes perfect sense. Having rejected reason, we will not expect ourselves or others to behave reasonably. Having put our passions to the fore, we will act and react more crudely and range-of-the-moment. Having lost our sense of ourselves as individuals, we will seek our identities in our groups. Having little in common with different groups, we will see them as competitive enemies. Having abandoned recourse to rational and neutral standards, violent competition will seem practical. And having abandoned peaceful conflict resolution, prudence will dictate that only the most ruthless will survive. ””
About This Quote
The quote argues that when societies abandon rational discourse and embrace extreme political correctness, they replace reason with group identity, leading to heightened tribalism, hostility, and a survival-of-the-fittest mindset.
In simple terms: Abandoning reason fuels tribal conflict and ruthlessness.
Key Takeaway
Reason loss → group identity → violence
Themes
political correctness
tribalism
rationality
identity politics
conflict
Mood
concerned
critical
cautious
Type
analytical
cautionary
sociopolitical
When to use this quote
- political debates
- online echo chambers
- cultural wars
- policy making
- social movements
Key Concepts
rational discourse
group identity
social cohesion
moral relativism
Practical Applications
- designing interventions to restore rational dialogue
- educational programs on critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does group identity shape our perception of conflict?
- What mechanisms can restore rational standards in public discourse?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that political correctness aims to protect marginalized groups, not to suppress reason.
![“Yet mere membership as a matter of duty is not enough for Hegel, given the grandeur of the state’s divine historical purpose: “One must worship the state as a terrestrial divinity.”[211]” quote by Stephen R.C. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/371/stephen-r-c-hicks-12692_hegel_yet-mere-membership-as-a-matter-of-duty_229759.jpg)
![“Given the pervasiveness of capitalism’s domination, the revolutionary vanguard can come only from those outcast intellectuals—especially among the younger students[282]—those who are able to “link liberation with the dissolution of ordinary and orderly perception”[283] and who thereby can see…” quote by Stephen R.C. Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b31/stephen-r-c-hicks-12692_freedom_given-the-pervasiveness-of-capitalism-s_775059.jpg)
