Lately, it seems like I'm always finding that the things I dislike the most have some element of irrational loyalty. For instance, religion has its blind faith, neo-conservatism has its patriotism, sports its die-hard fans, racism its rednecks, etc. However, when I tell middle-aged people that it seems loyalty in most cases is quite worthless - they look at me like I violated some holy writ (which I guess I have).
At first, I began to think that loyalty was completely irrational and based mostly on pure emotions - something to be disposed of. However, this intuitively seemed wrong to me. I don't think the world would function if we were a bunch of back-stabbers. Further, faith drives men to do amazingly good & bad things, as does patriotism, etc. So, yet again, this is an problem existing by degree - not dichotomy.
Where does one draw the line though? Let me start from what I know: loyalty in personal relationships seems like something to keep. I'd hate to think all my friends were just around so they could take my wallet, etc. - that's not a world I'd like to live. This it seems is a rational response society developed because we're all better off if their are social norms approving of loyalty in small groups. In fact, it may even be the case that the tribes our species have evolved from within have allowed our brain to be wired for this very action.
As we move into larger groups, loyalty seems to have a problem. Let's take the example of workers previous loyalty to their place of work. It was very common 40 years ago to work your entire life in one company and retire. You can see how this would promote loyalty. It's all you've known; the people, the system, all of it you've been surrounded with. However, more and more this loyalty can only be shown to be one way. The companies that are the object of your admiration go bankrupt or simply lay you off - for what end was this loyalty?
Larger still - to the level of a whole state or country is the issue of patriotism. It seems like every neo-conservative and most Republicans worship the USA but hate its government - fascinating... I remember hearing multiple talking heads call anyone who thought the US was to blame for foreign policy tragedies was a part of the "blame America first crowd". It's funny that such people will stick up for our country at all costs with no rationality - only for the love of tradition.
It seems safe to say that large scale loyalty is almost always irrational and unhealthy. I'd like to remove as much of any such biases from my worldview.
Now let's go to the opposite end of the spectrum: what are examples of irrational loyalty on the small scale? A problem that I've often tried to rid myself of is biases associated with my current beliefs - put another way: idea stickiness. This stickiness is irrational because you should let your thoughts be easily swayed by rational thought. As soon as I started to delve into Christianity, I realized my sticky worldview was going to change - but I resisted.
Some might say we need a strong moral core in order to function, but I'd have to say that almost all people don't have a moral core - they have societal-referencing: ie the Zeitgeist. Most people who worship God think nothing of lying to their kids about Santa or even pre-marital sex. This is because its reinforced by society at large. They don't kill people, not because it's sin, but because you'll be locked up or executed.
If our minds are open to let rational evidence shape our views we'd still recognize that society is a good thing - morals don't need to be sticky due to loyalty but from constant rational enforcement. To this end - it seems like the only times loyalty can be applied with positive effects is to personal relationships where there is a rational self-interest for both parties to remain loyal to each others interests.
I'd love to get some further thoughts on this.
