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The Limits of Social Consciousness and Judgment

Social consciousness, by virtue of being expressed, pronounced, and exemplified throughout the hierarchy of social experience, and by hierarchy we mean the intersections of social sentiment, can become problematic when extended to an extreme degree, beyond a neutral state, which we will consider normal for that polarity. This occurs when exemplification surpasses any level of articulation that can simply sequence between two parts.


For example, a person walking to a courthouse as a defendant must maintain an emotionless expression, because any expression they display may be used against them. In cases where exemplification is so strong, as in this scenario, a representation, the cost or consequence is of such significance that the social arena lacks the tools to proceed with nuance or discrepancy. It is almost as if the exemplification must be ignored, not because social sentiment is absent, but because it exceeds the possibility of coherent articulation.


We cannot articulate the defendant’s sentiment and conscious backing in a manner suited to the scenario without risking information overload, which would prevent a sequential or purposeful outcome that accurately reflects the truth of the matter. Here, we observe the trait and character of judgment noted by the Hellenic tradition or Greek philosophers. Even in high degrees of social exemplification, the defendant provides a clear example.


Upon entering the court and sitting through judicial proceedings, with closed doors, wooden panels, judge, and jury, the arrangement is designed to proceed toward good judgment, free from the influence of social exemplification. Indeed, if the jury prioritizes social exemplification over judicial procedure, they are dismissed to preserve impartial judgment.


Thus, even before the judicial proceedings begin, one can apply individualized judgment to analyze the scenario coherently without being swayed by exemplification. In truth, there is much more to unpack, and extreme social exemplification can overwhelm conscious processing. The judicial layer, or the approach through judicial development treated as a character trait, allows for detailed analysis without triggering the extremes of social exemplification.


For instance, in the case of news, an extreme explosion of newsworthy detail can only be revisited after its intensity dissipates, two weeks later, a month later, whenever ordinary social consciousness has moved on. At that point, one can engage with the information while still maintaining relevance. If addressed while socially active, the overwhelming nature may obscure nuance, leaving one lost in the scenario and unable to analyze impartially.


Mind and Itself

Architecture of Mind and the Hidden Mechanisms of Human Perception

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