About Personal Illusions

[Sapphire Harp]

So, there's something that has been bugging me on the subject of personal delusions.
I think we've all seen people who are beset with them, obvious offenders being people are completely arrogant and full of themselves. People who can't see what they really are, what they're capable of, hypocrisy in what they've done, etc...

I know that as a type we're very capable of following logic to pierce these illusions, our own included (assuming we can get some evidence about them.)

But I can't decide if our type has the fewest self-delusions of the types... or the biggest, most complex / cleverly hidden / and cunningly disguised.

I feel it both ways, depending on the day. Has anyone thought this out? Cheers.
​

 

[Fedayeen]

At the very least other people tend to think INTPs are arrogant

 

[csuguy]

At the very least other people tend to think INTPs are arrogant

I'm not arrogant - I'm just always right

 

[Fedayeen]

Thats why I was saying that we aren't but other see it that way.

 

[loveofreason]

So, there's something that has been bugging me on the subject of personal delusions.
I think we've all seen people who are beset with them, obvious offenders being people are completely arrogant and full of themselves. People who can't see what they really are, what they're capable of, hypocrisy in what they've done, etc...

I know that as a type we're very capable of following logic to pierce these illusions, our own included (assuming we can get some evidence about them.)

But I can't decide if our type has the fewest self-delusions of the types... or the biggest, most complex / cleverly hidden / and cunningly disguised.

I feel it both ways, depending on the day. Has anyone thought this out? Cheers.
​

I think about this a lot and have no conclusions.

As you note, there are times when I think I/we see the truth more clearly than anyone else around, then the next day I'm convinced everything I perceive, think and feel is complete delusion

I don't know if reality is in constant flux or if it's me.

 

[Agent Intellect]

i think its easy for us to see past societies and others illusions (perhaps to other illusions) but perhaps were not so good at seeing past our own. i know for me, debating people on this site has given me quite a bit of humility about my own illusions. the problem is, if we were all completely disillusioned with ourselves, we'd probably have considerably less self worth.

 

[Ermine]

It's certainly easy for us to see past the illusions/delusions of others, but I find it ironic that people think I'm the one hiding behind illusions. I'm always honest with myself and others. I just have a multifaceted personality. Some people think I'm arrogant when they are the ones being arrogant. When around artists, they don't seem to buy any facet of my personality except the artist. This goes for the musicians, the writers, and any other specialists in a field I'm interested in.

It's interesting how the chameleon effect works.

 

[Artifice Orisit]

The mind is built upon self delusion, I've tried to completely diselusion myself,
I nearly yippidy dang doodle went insane.

 

[anemian]

That the broad wide concept and theory is the most important aspect of a problem. You can't just ignore the little devils that are details.

 

[Sapphire Harp]

I'm not arrogant - I'm just always right

I don't know about that, but I pretty much always feel like I have the best conclusion I can get from the evidence I have - or know it's somewhat shaky when I'm not certain.

I'm sure part of my concern is the fact that -no one- ever tells me any opinion of me directly. I always get opinions at least second hand. And I usually feel somewhat insulted by all the indirection.
​

 

[Da Blob]

Illusions are great defense Mechanisms. I have a few I've been hiding behind for several decades...

 

[Nightingale]

I think about this a lot and have no conclusions.

As you note, there are times when I think I/we see the truth more clearly than anyone else around, then the next day I'm convinced everything I perceive, think and feel is complete delusion

I don't know if reality is in constant flux or if it's me.

This is exactly how I see it as well.

Though.... generally, I have more faith in the accuracy of my own view than I'd place in in the popular view. I think my brain is less clouded by passion and pleasurable feelings. I'm reasonably sure that I get a much smaller payoff in the pleasure center of my brain than most people do, when I engage in the activities that are commonly enjoyed. And I know for a fact that I think more about the whys and wherefores of my goals and motivations--perhaps even to a destructive extent.

However, it also seems to me that human beings are happier, healthier, and better adjusted with a greater level of belief in illusory things. They can fulfill their objectives more successfully and joyfully if they do not question the importance or reality of the great ideas they value (love, loyalty, etc.)

I wouldn't trade clarity for joy, but I do waffle on the matter of who is best suited for this environment and I'm willing to entertain the possibility that the old saying "it takes all kinds" is a falsehood.

That's how I see it right now, at any rate.

 

[Sapphire Harp]

Illusions are great defense Mechanisms. I have a few I've been hiding behind for several decades...

Doesn't that awareness of your illusions... invalidate your life? Drive you mad? Compel you to destroy them?

I wouldn't trade clarity for joy, but I do waffle on the matter of who is best suited for this environment and I'm willing to entertain the possibility that the old saying "it takes all kinds" is a falsehood.

I feel the same way. Sometimes I think the one most irreplaceable possession I have is my mind. I know that if it became broken or damaged... there really wouldn't be very much left to my life.

But the question that gets me at the end of the day is "Why?"

Why prefer truth and discontentment to delusion and happiness? Frankly, the preference seems very complicating, if not outright destructive to our day-to-day selves.​