New Discourses True and False or Us Versus Them?
Feb 23, 2026
A discussion of Michael Malice's idea that people think through an us-versus-them filter rather than true or false. Exploration of how tribalism shapes politics, media, education, and social media. Contrast between fast intuitive tribal thinking and slow, disciplined truth-seeking tied to Enlightenment values. A call to train ourselves to prefer truth over tribal loyalty.
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People Use Us Versus Them More Than True False
- Most people filter information by tribe membership rather than truth.
- James A. Lindsay cites Michael Malice: people agree with their tribe and reject outsider claims regardless of accuracy.
Tribal Thinking Perpetuates Identity Politics
- Us-them thinking is self-reinforcing and escalates identity politics.
- Lindsay explains friend-enemy distinctions beget more friend-enemy thinking and continuous conflict theory.
Fast Thinking Drives Social Tribal Judgments
- Fast intuitive cognition drives social us-them judgments.
- Lindsay references Daniel Kahneman and Joshua Greene: the brain's quick, emotional mode prioritizes social fitting and rapid tribal cues.
