In Unit 06 we demonstrate the intrinsic certainty and conviction of intuition at the hand of Christopher Hitchens’ self-representations. 

DEMONSTRATION OF THE INTRINSIC CERTAINTY AND CONVICTION OF INTUITION

Please study the selection of relevant self-representations

We encourage you to first study the entire section as a whole to form an overall picture before proceeding to examine the specific extracts highlighted in the commentary below.  

The Four Horsemen

Extract

Hour 1 of 2
Book: pp. 49-50 [From the last par. on p. 49: “If we could make one change…” to the end of the second last par. on p. 50 ending with the words: “…not to be conscripted or annexed by any priesthood.”]
URL: 00:11:04 to 00:12:08 timer

Extract

Hour 2 of 2

Book: p. 96 [From the top: “You could say that every culture…” to the end of the second last par. ending with the words: “…registered to be buried in Arlington Cemetery.”]
URL: 00:13:39 to 00:14:30 timer

DEMONSTRATIONS

01

Hitchens:

“We’re all triune in one way or another. We’re programmed for that. That’s very clear. It wouldn’t ever have been a four-headed God. You know that from experience … what we have in our emotions, the surplus value of our personalities, aren’t particularly useful for our evolution. Or we can’t prove they are.”
Book: p. 50

Hour 1 of 2
URL: 00:11:35 timer

Analytic commentary

These bold statements by Hitchens relate to a narrative about Frances Collins, the genome pioneer.  Hitchens refers to Collins as having said “that whilst mountaineering one day he [Collins] was just overcome by the landscape and then went down on his knees and accepted Jesus Christ.” (pp. 49-50)  The landscape is described as “A frozen waterfall in three streams” which “put him in mind of the Trinity.”  Hitchens links this response [by Collins] to “what we have in our emotions” not being “particularly useful for our evolution”, and then adds that “we can’t prove that they are [useful].”  Hitchens’ intuitive perception clearly conveys an intrinsic certainty and conviction.  Jung observed that “Intuitive knowledge possesses an intrinsic certainty and conviction.” CW. 6, par. 770 

Quite apart from whether you agree or disagree with Hitchens’ viewpoint, from the rational perspective, it is the intensity of conviction and persuasive certainty of these exceptionally bold intuitive statements that necessarily evoke interrogative questions such as: What evidence does Hitchens have that “we can’t prove” that what we have in our emotions “aren’t useful?” What proof does Hitchens have that there “wouldn’t ever have been a four-headed God?” On which facts does Hitchens base his statements? 

 
02

Hitchens:

“Witchcraft is completely ineradicable.”

Book: p. 96

Hour 2 of 2

URL: 00:13:59 timer

Analytic commentary

Here we see another bold statement by Hitchens, expressed with intrinsic certainty and conviction.  As pointed out in Unit 05, it appears as if this intuitive conviction has simply just fallen into his head.  Persuasive as it sounds, it would be extremely difficult to prove.  It is not rational to make such an exceptional statement without a factual basis.  This intrinsic conviction is consistently apparent throughout Hitchens’ material.  This certainty is particularly prominent and most persuasive in certain bold statements. 

EXPLORE MORE BOLD STATEMENTS BY HITCHENS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE INTRINSIC CERTAINTY AND CONVICTION OF HIS INTUITION

The following five extracts provide you with an opportunity to explore and ascertain for yourself some of Hitchens’ bold intuitions that radiate intrinsic certainty and conviction.  We highlight in bold font below the phrases in Hitchens’ intuitive self-representations that portray intensity of conviction and persuasive certainty:

Hitchens:

“Faith, as often as it’s cut down or superseded or discredited, replaces … extraordinarily fast … principally to do with the fear of extinction or annihilation.”

Book: p. 92 
Hour 2 of 2

URL: 00:09:53 timer

II

Hitchens:

“Astrology is not going to be eradicated.”

Book: p. 97 

Hour 2 of 2
URL: 00:15:32 timer

III

Hitchens:

“That is the worst thing in our world … surely the worst thing that anyone can say is, ‘No further inquiries needed.  You’ve already got all you need to know.  All else is commentary.  That is the most sinister and dangerous thing…”

Book: p. 103 

Hour 2 of 2
URL: 00:22:52 timer

IV

Hitchens:

“I think we’re absolutely in a tiny, dwindling minority that’s going to be defeated by the forces of theocracy.”

Book: p. 129 

Hour 2 of 2
URL: 00:57:11 timer

V

Hitchens:

“I think they’re going to end up by destroying civilisation. I’ve long thought so. But not without a struggle.”

Book: p. 129 

Hour 2 of 2
URL: 00:57:42 timer

These statements by Hitchens clearly demonstrate Jung’s observation that “Intuitive knowledge possesses an intrinsic certainty and conviction”.