Last week we continued our philosophy series by focusing on the split between the material world and our ideas about it. We’ll return to that next week. But with war now upon us, I wanted to pause and talk about identity — especially core identity. Some opinions sit near the surface and can change with new facts. But core identity is different. When people feel that deepest part of themselves challenged, they do not always respond with careful reflection. Often they defend, retreat, or go silent. That deeper human reality felt worth exploring now.
A few more minutes for core takeaways.
This week:
Worldview.
Identity has a core and an outer rim. The core holds fast. The outer rim bends, absorbs, and reconsiders. When the pressure of events reaches the core, silence can be the first sound of change.
Here are the six core takeaways that forged the depths of this week’s column.
1.
George Orwell
1903 to 1950, aged 46.
Orwellian Thought
Born Eric Arthur Blair in British India, George Orwell wrote in English about how corruption starts when language is twisted, facts are manipulated, and authority demands loyalty over reality.
2.
“Identity is easy — it’s me, whatever that is.”
- Michael Alan Prestwood
- 2024
Identity feels solid, but it shifts with every stage of life. You are not fixed; you’re evolving. This line reminds us that “me” isn’t a static definition but an ongoing story. Knowing that frees you to grow, question, and become something better than yesterday’s version.
3.
What is cognitive dissonance?
Identity is your sense of who you are. Your beliefs, loyalties, roles, and values that your “self.” Your worldview is your personal language, religion, and philosophy. Cognitive dissonance is your mind getting stuck between two things that do not fit.
4.
What happens when identity and loyalty collide?
Collision at the core of your identity sometimes produces a moral burden. The task is not to hide in loyalty, but to stay honest about the tension, protect what is most human, and refuse to let identity swallow conscience. Camus did not resolve the problem neatly, he taught us to face conflict without lying to ourselves.
5.
Why do people believe wrong things?
Confirmation bias is our tendency to favor information that aligns with our beliefs, which is perfectly fine for old information. The key? Make a strong effort to freshly evaluate new information. Challenge assumptions, seek opposing viewpoints, and ask yourself if you’re interpreting facts or fulfilling desires.
6.
What inspired Orwell’s 1984 and Orwellian thought?
Orwellian thought is knowledge your own side can betray its ideals too. It’s the idea that corruption starts the moment when language is twisted, facts are manipulated, and power begins demanding loyalty over reality.
That’s it. The end.