I was confused when I read my first article about PI. The term was then new, and nobody offered a good definition. The article complained about the concept, comparing it to dictatorship, so I tended to agree. However, there was a certain right-wing feel to it. *That couldn't be!
. . Now, I'm against conformity and orthodoxy, so I agree, but why shouldn't we fight against racism, sexism or ageism? Isn't it best to put social pressure on those who'd deprive people of their rights and dignity?
. . What to do? I am for doing the correct thing. But isn't that a right-wing pressure to conform? Should we all conform to good behavior? Double-bind.
. . The difference is this: It's wrong to do the right thing just for reasons of conformity. To fight against racism. e.g., only because "it's the right thing", or because it's the majority opinion... is cowardly. It means that if the opinion around you were otherwise, you'd probably be on that side just as strongly. This is what the "negroes" of the fifties and sixties criticized the liberal whites for.
. . It's also wrong to do the wrong thing for conformity to majority opinion. This is a tough one to become aware of. The majority usually seems to have many good reasons for their position, and it's hard to find the opinion of a minority. Even the Nazis had their reasons, based on misplaced virtue. (Deadly Virtues)
. . The best way is to reject comformity and orthodoxy, examine the issue, and do as you decide, whatever the majority opinion. If that then conforms --even if it's a consensus-- you still did well.