On being a contrarian

A manifesto of sorts

Today’s dispatch takes us on a voyage into what being a contrarian really means; a manifesto if you like in unpacking the intent of those who are brave enough to swim against the tide of mainstream consensus, in the pugnacious pursuit of truth. Much of what is said here stems from my own obsession in exploring the pressure points of conventional wisdom. Along the way, I’ve taken a few creative liberties in my attempt to paint a portrait of the ‘ideal contrarian’.

I should also note that this piece was in part inspired by my reading of Christopher Hitchens’, “Letters to a Young Contrarian” - an epistolary work that explores the breadth of various contrarian positions and how they operate in our world, delivered with his trademark acerbic wit. As a side caveat, the combative and polemical style of Hitchens does feel unnecessarily provocative at times, so it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

But first, a few comments to appease the armchair etymologists amongst us. The word ‘contrarian’ is derived from the Latin equivalent, contrarius (adj.) to refer to "an opponent, an antagonist". In English history, contrariant was the name given to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and the barons who took part with him in the rebellion against Edward II, "because, on account of their great power, it was not expedient to call them rebels or traitors". Being a contrarian was thus steeped in the politics of the time. It was an identity that signified reasoned defiance under the vanguard of a greater cause.

A ‘contradictor’ you say…

Opposition and contrarianism aren’t natural bedfellows

Everyone has an innate oppositional streak. Sometimes this is born out of an unexplained compulsion to react against the common grain just to prove a point. After all, entire subcultures and communities were born out of innovative dissidence often as a way of breaking free from the manacles of oppression. But these mass heroics whilst crucially relevant in initiating change, isn’t part of a contrarian’s playbook . A contrarian doesn’t necessarily regard opposition as means to an end. Contrarianism goes beyond the expression of symbolic defiance against the face of authority.

A choice armed with purposeful & informed intent

To be a contrarian is to make an intellectually driven choice; a choice to delicately subvert accepted frames of reality with the hope of realising an underlying raw truth - one that is unobscured by ideology and unimpeded by assumption. Contrarianism is akin to wielding the exotic weaponry of unpopular opinion in the service of truth. A contrarian is intellectually curious and brutally honest, whilst being a relentless advocate for debate and contradiction, but always with purpose rather than contempt.

Nuance is the order of the day

A contrarian’s voice isn’t outlandish. It speaks quietly but powerfully. It provokes and demands a review of seemingly objective truths, as a way of necessity rather than obligation. There is no expectation to outshine, outwit or outmanoeuvre others who hold different viewpoints. Nuance is key in peeling away the various layers of any argument and showing that there is a more viable path ahead; one that promises a trusted route to the truth.

The media isn’t made for contrarian views

All media, independent or otherwise, have a general tendency to subscribe to comforting atavistic narratives of us versus them, tribe versus tribe, good versus evil. You would be hard-pressed to find an online platform that circumvents the temptation to simplify and label. In fact, this very article is guilty of valorising a specific ‘group’. That is the nature of media and the currency of communication. Adopting a viewpoint that deviates from the mainstream narrative opens itself to critical scrutiny.

Consensus is not always the answer

For the contrarian, consensus alone tends to be an insufficient indicator of objective reality. They are especially cautious of the persuasive emotional appeals and rhetoric peddled by the politicians, demagogues and charlatans of the world. To be in total and unequivocal agreement (on any matter) implies an aversion to what is potentially contestable and contradictory. And it is for that reason a contrarian remains highly suspicious of any pre-packaged narrative or belief that masquerades as perfectly coherent and self-evident.

Self-correction is part of the dance

There is an open acknowledgement that the world is a flawed place just as perfection is a flawed concept. Self-correction is an accepted tool in the contrarian’s arsenal, one that he/she uses to adapt to new knowledge and reconfigure old ideas irrespective of popular opinion. Self-correction is the difference between true knowledge and puffed up pretensions. A contrarian is always open to the possibility that their own core assumptions may be misconceived. There is thus a degree of ever-present humility.

In conclusion…

In an age powered by a stifling urge to conformity it is important not to shy away from upholding minority views, for without such intellectual brashness, one risks being bound by the status quo, or seduced by the false security invited by membership in the popular consensus.

The choice is yours.