[Son Sung-jin Column] The Dangers of Blindness and Extremism

When blinded by love, no fault appears as a fault. This is the essence of blind love. When the true nature of the other is hidden, any action seems permissible. The inevitable result is disaster. The philosopher Immanuel Kant described blindness as 'intuition without concepts.' Intuition can be seen as emotion, and concepts as reason. Once caught in blindness, one loses reason and judgment, unable to distinguish between justice and injustice.
Blind actions in a nation or society can lead to collective madness. This is often fueled by the pursuit of power and political agitation. Blindness is created by supporters, and politics feeds on this blindness. While idol groups may gain wealth from the blind love of their fandoms, politics is different. It can sway the world through power. Blindness can give rise to monstrous politics, plunging a nation into chaos and crisis.
Søren Kierkegaard warned of the dangers of uncritical, emotional faith, calling it 'blind applause.' When swept up in collective enthusiasm, no advice is heard. Kierkegaard illustrated this with an example: 'A wonderful show was underway in a theater. Suddenly, the manager appeared and shouted to the audience, "The theater is on fire." But the audience responded with thunderous applause. They were so fixated on the upcoming performance that they ignored the warning. The manager repeatedly urged evacuation, but the applause only grew louder. In the end, the raging fire consumed the theater.'
Blindness leads to political extremism, and extremism begets more extremism. Politics in the Republic of Korea is caught in this vicious cycle. Martial law was an extreme measure, but even before that, our politics was deeply stained by blindness and extremism. The confusion of martial law may seem over, but it is not. Blindness and extremism have only become more entrenched. The state of turmoil is unlikely to subside soon.
As extremism spreads, the moderate middle is ignored. Only those with the loudest voices prevail. Truth is distorted, and the interests of the powerless majority are violated. People declare themselves righteous and demonize their opponents. It is difficult for the public to act rationally, due to collective and unfeeling tendencies. Politics seeks to draw the masses to its side through division. In an effort to escape alienation, people eventually join one side. Sensationalist media are easily used as tools to capture public attention.
It is difficult to single out any one party for monstrous or extreme politics. The ruling party is addicted to the omnipotence of law. Ruling by law, seeking to govern the people through legislation, is an abuse of power and undemocratic. Claims are often made in the name of the people, but it is more accurate to say supporters. The opinions of opposing citizens are not mentioned. Even if supporters are the majority and opponents the minority, they do not represent the entire nation. Minority voices are nearly silenced. As long as blind obedience persists, such politics will not disappear.
One cannot expect the future of the Republic of Korea from the opposition party, which still clings to 'extreme choices.' It merely reveals its true colors as a derivative of fandom and monstrous politics. Rather than being bound by the past with petty appeals, this should be an opportunity to pursue a paradigm shift toward the future.
The regression and corruption of politics reflect the nation's face and are a global disgrace. Even when fighting, politicians should care for national policy, but their shamelessness is astounding. Good policies and necessary laws are neglected, while systems threatening national identity are proliferated. The disappearance of policy-driven politics is a national warning sign. The Parliamentary Inspection of the Administration, used as a stage for political strife, should be abolished. Government policies now seem like a competition to inflate numbers. Rosy policies, heavy on rhetoric, appear to be nothing more than products that cleverly package populism.
In the end, responsibility falls on us, the public and voters, who become targets of ridicule and are treated as animals. The public must reflect and awaken to avoid such scorn. The key is to reject blind allegiance. We must act by discerning right from wrong and truth from falsehood. Even if it does not benefit us personally, we should choose the greater good. Do not be swayed by divisive agitation; instead, develop the ability to fact-check independently. The silent majority must also raise their voices. Even those called elders are cowardly if they remain hidden.
The year is drawing to a close, and soon a new one will dawn. Even if we are reluctant to talk about hope, we must do so. Progress is achieved by having and realizing hope. What we desire is a better tomorrow than today, a better new year than the last. Another election is coming, and as always, the political arena will become a battleground. Yet there is still a way forward. If we come to our senses, even rotten politics can be set right.
tonio66@fnnews.com Reporter