Aha - there is presently an inclination to write in the passive voice as it prevents reification of the word for the first person singular.
The word ‘reification’ might not be the most apt but it points in the right direction ie of kingship, or at least of holding a position more exalted than it deserves.
Michael Shermer, the prominent sceptic, recognises patternicity and agenticity as forces or tendencies that are built into the way that the mindbrain works. Sensations from the sense organs are churned together with similar sensations from memory and patterns are created and recognised. But a created pattern cannot stand alone – it logically requires a particular mindbrain to be the agent of the pattern.
Aha - open the door to myth and magic.
Eg thunder and lightning are channelled through the sense organs and churned with memories of past experiences. (Note: they would have been scary sense impressions on first experiencing them.) Parents and tribal chiefs are too insignificant to have the power to control such potent forces of nature. Maybe the shaman/priest/god-king has the power. Or, failing that, the ancestors might be able to influence God who inscrutably works in mysterious ways. Note: s/he comes in different shapes and sizes in different cultures. And these days there are secular meteorologists with maps and detailed short, medium and long term forecasts.
People who have been trained to be scientists are well used to the passive voice. However, although it helps to remove individualised subjective bias from spoken and written reports, it can also serve to throw a fog over personal responsibility. Eg “War was declared, bombs were dropped and collateral damage fell within acceptable limits.”
Note: scientists are not immune to patternicity and agenticity. But, by being aware of the hard wired tendencies, allowances can be made for them. Such at least is the opinion of the author of this blogpost.
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