Beyond the Linguistics: Presupposition

Every now and then, I'll stumble across a fragment of an idea, a thought that if allowed to germinate fully would result in an epiphany of sorts, and not necessarily a welcome one at that. Often, I'll just jot it down and run away from the implications. Unwelcome does not in turn mean unhealthy, however, and so with that I'll offer up today's stray thought for dissection.

We all view the world through the lens of our own presuppositions. It does not mean we are wrong, but we should humbly acknowledge that we do, and that we may not necessarily be right.

You might be tempted to oversimplify this thought into: We all have our own worldview that shapes our perceptions of people and events. While certainly true, I believe the truth goes far deeper than we realize.

First, let's examine my choice of words. Per the oft-cited yet generally un-citable source called Wikipedia, a presupposition is "an implicit assumption about the world or background belief relating to an utterance whose truth is taken for granted in discourse." Why this word, and not "assumption" or "presumption"? Because these are merely derivations of the verb "to assume", meaning to take something for granted, a hypothesis, or to take liberties, if you will. I use "presupposition" (assume beforehand) because it serves to illuminate the unspoken context behind the things we say or the interpretation we apply to information we receive. Allow me to bypass the technical and philosophical discussion of the linguistics, in favor of a more base discussion that gets me closer to my point.

If I held the belief that everyone in Hollywood was a liberal and pushed liberal orthodoxy in their onscreen products, then it is a easy step to interpret everything I watch according to that presupposition, whether or not it is true. If I believe that by definition the Republican Party is extremist, then every utterance or position the Republicans take will be viewed through that prism.

Many of us consider ourselves to be objective, or at least committed to the attempt. But it is unlikely that we will ever truly be so, because the prejudices that color our perception can never be fully exorcised from the conscious or subconscious mind. When confronted with people or ideas that run counter to our own view, we instinctively react defensively or dismissively, never bothering to consider a worldview so counter to our own, all the while continuing our charade of objectivity.

It can happen even in the most benign of circumstances. Once your perception of a person is set, it is hard to see that same person any other way, no matter the evidence, potential or capability others might see. Then again, that same dynamic can allow you to see someone else in a far different light, even if their skills are identical to the former. Your presupposition can block your view from one angle as easily as it can enhance it in another.

My point, if there is one, is that we are far better off to acknowledge the presuppositions that shape our views of people and events. This doesn't mean we have to change them, but we would do well not to underestimate their influence on our thinking. Maybe then we'll see just a little bit more clearly.