The Death of Discernment
And the undermining of originality.
Apologies for my absence, as I return after a holiday in the U.K.
While I was away from the U.S. — and the nightmare that is our political daily existence here — I thought a lot about the importance of discernment.
The Brits and the Europeans thankfully still hold the concept in high esteem. But America, at least in this moment, feels like it is losing sight of an important idea.
Discernment is critical to understanding the complexities of the world around us, making wise decisions, and distinguishing between right and wrong. It equips us to filter through culture to then self-educate, and elevate, into the very best version of ourselves.
Social discernment is comprehending the very real agendas that operate in others, and putting advance plans in place to navigate them. It is being able to think critically, creatively, and constructively, to further societal progress- while standing up to those who seek to impede it.
Discernment values originality of thought. It is the foundation of human decency, and American Democracy, which are both guided by an agreed upon set of principles. Grace, elegance, and refinement are its by-products, as well as the pillars of international diplomacy. (Grace, elegance, and refinement are also key ingredients for great personal style.)
Discernment equips us to accurately assess the depth of character (or complete lack thereof) in those around us. To judge people not by their current social station, but instead by their individual integrity, their world view, and their empathy for others.
Anyone who voted for this U.S. Republican regime last November completely outed themselves as residing in the gutter on said social spectrum. As monster, group thinker, or most likely some combination of both.
In America, many are outsourcing, or completely ignoring, the critical role of personal discernment — in the arts, fashion, culture, decency, and politics — giving power instead to computer algorithms, and to a separate but related (and very dangerous) quality of human group think.
So perhaps this is the moment to reflect on the role of discernment. As Trump takes over Washington D.C.’s police force, as ChatGPT-5 continues to displace crucial key thinkers from their jobs, and as social media algorithms dumb down societal taste levels.
Discernment requires that we see ourselves as daily works in progress, who constantly calibrate against what the world serves up.
I fear that the more we flatten our culture and politics, the less likely we’ll be able to achieve a right-now-much-needed higher level of social, cultural, and political sophistication and awareness.
Now, U.K. bits and bobs.
London called. With time there spent on the front and back ends, to include visits to The Cow, The Wolseley, Colbert, The Duke of Wellington, The Orange Hotel, and other long time favorites, for meet ups with my daughter, and her English friends from Cambridge, where she is a third year, studying History of Art.
Then it was off to the north to meet the rest of our group (who joined by way of the Oasis concert in Manchester) for some hiking, and a two night pub stay at The Hare & Hounds.
Then it was off to Cornwall for two weeks. Some highlights:
Four Boys: Rock, Cornwall
Four Boys is a restaurant which serves up delicious seafood just steps from the beach in Rock, Cornwall, where many an Old Etonian’s summer house can be found. On the menu, I highly recommend the Cornish crab farfalle!
The Padstow Studio: Padstow, Cornwall
A contemporary art gallery, divine beyond description. Located on Duke Street, The Padstow Studio was founded in 2006 as a living, working, and exhibition space by British artist of note Sarah Adams. Like no place else is how I would describe a visit to The Padstow Studio, for the incredible beauty of its interior space, and its art installations.
The Drang Gallery: Padstow, Cornwall
A contemporary fine art gallery located in Padstow Harbour, featuring works by artists to include among others: Banksy, Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Ann Carrington, Martha Freud, and Andy Warhol.
Paul Ainsworth at No6: Padstow, Cornwall
A sublime interior design inspired townhouse — and Michelin Star restaurant — located just steps from The Padstow Studio. No6 serves up modern British food, with a focus on locally sourced Cornish produce.
Coming Soon!
Am working on the next installment of Refinement is Resistance, post holiday! Please stay tuned!
Agree. Discernment is disappearing because we lost the capacity and space to stimulate connections and thinking. But AI is not totally the culprit of that … we’ve been deeply embedded in systems that constraint our humanity … ou ability to feel .. to even care. I’ve been writing a lot about this … glad to stumble upon this thread
David: Discernment and the Algorithm are opposing forces in a war for the soul of individuality. How can excellence be achieved without understanding the value of process vs. the pursuit of instant gratification? I LOVE this post!!