I’ve definitely been thinking about ways to get more exposure for this site. I would like there to be a full-length Development In Context book, because I think this is such an important topic. One goal of this site is to build the all-important “platform” for the book, because agents and editors these days require me to be famous already before they will take a chance on my title. Any suggestions for where to send this would be welcome!

Another well-presented article. Have you considered sending this series to a bigger outlet (one that might pay for such phenomenal content)? Just curious — they’re so intelligent to me, and I think they’d appeal to the mass public.

Some see meditation as a form of cognitive dissonance in the sense in which you seem to use the term — that is, it’s a way of trying to change your emotional state, or escape from your current experience. (Mr. Hadkins said something like this in an interview he did as well, I believe.)

To others (notably, the Vipassana tradition), it’s actually a way to become aware of unconscious behaviors and thoughts that are affecting your life in ways that might not be serving you. Others, of course, don’t agree with either of these.

I think it’ll be an interesting discussion.

Cognitive dissonance, as I understand it, is telling yourself the opposite of what your real belief is. I’d rather be at peace with the fact that disparity is a harsh reality of this world than to pretend that I’m happy about it or pretend it doesn’t exist.

True happiness is about coming out on the other side of difficult challenge–happiness is the ending, not the beginning point of a life well-lived.

Thank you for your writings here, Chris! Very thought-provoking stuff.

On this view, because there will always be some degree of inequality, techniques such as meditation and other spiritual practices have a necessary role in smoothing out the frustration or anxiety created by it. It’s an interesting perspective.

I’m curious what you mean when you say that meditation is a form of cognitive dissonance.

I think economic disparity (or unfairness) is totally unavoidable and while it is sad to think about, I don’t think there is any action we can take individually or as a society to close that gap. Capitalism favors those with the best ideas and resources are funneled toward them. If you’re the creator of the I-pad, then you will get obscene amounts of money. If you create an app for it, then you will get ridiculous amounts of money, etc. This is the way new technology has been creating economic unfairness for centuries. That’s not really anything to get unhappy about, but it should inspire you to think of revolutionary techniques for making the world better.

Personally, I am not a fan of meditating for myself. I think it’s a form of cognitive dissonance, and I’m not a fan of that either.

I’m not saying the world is perfect the way it is, but I do think it’s a world that is pretty good overall as far as the free world goes. But that’s a whole other can of worms. (Basically, a mix of capitalism and socialism is the best form of government that we could hope for, and that’s what we’ve got, and I’m not sad about that!)

I’m sounding like one of these “everything is positive and great” types, but I’m not. Bottom line is, disparity is unavoidable in the current system.

There are lots of studies that show success is not directly related to happiness (the numbers that show the weak link between financial success – after basic needs are met – and happiness are legion). This is true at both population and individual levels.

I’m sure the critics will be relieved that there anxieties are groundless. If not I guess there simple minded notions of success and happiness will need to be re-thought. They will of course be glad to do this (or their experience falsifies their theorising).

Thanks for a great post Chris.