Why Your Worldview is Not So Worldly (and What to Do About It)

“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.” ~Pema Chödrön

Imagine that everyone is looking at the world through a pair of glasses. These glasses are tinted with their own beliefs, values, and experiences—these are their "worldviews." These lenses shape how they see everything, from politics to morality to what’s right or wrong. But sometimes, most of the time, these lenses can distort things or make you miss what’s really going on.

But what happens if you choose to have no worldview? Would it be like taking off those glasses entirely and instead of seeing the world through a fixed set of beliefs, you begin to see it as it really is (or as close as possible), like nature itself—open, unbiased, and free from judgment?

This approach is about stepping back from the "battlefield" of clashing opinions—where people argue over whose worldview is right—and looking at the bigger picture. It’s like climbing a hill to see the whole landscape instead of being stuck in the middle of a fight.

By doing this, you aim to understand everyone’s perspective, almost like an empathic superpower. You’re not tied to one side or one set of rules: you’re flexible, open, and able to see the world with fresh, clear eyes. It gives you a sense of "metamorality" (a term from Joshua Greene), where you’re able to rise above rigid moral codes and try to understand what’s driving people’s actions, even if they seem wrong to others.

Blind to our blindness:

“We can be blind to the obvious, and we are also blind to our blindness.” ~Daniel Kahneman

Kahneman’s quote captures why the “no worldview” approach is so powerful. People often don’t realize how much their worldviews act like blinders. For example, if someone grows up believing certain groups are "bad" or certain ideas are "true," they might miss obvious truths that don’t fit those beliefs. Worse, they don’t even know they’re missing anything, they’re blind to their own blindness.

This is why worldviews, while useful for making sense of the world, can sometimes be "not so worldly." They limit us, keeping us stuck in our own heads instead of connecting us to the broader reality.

The non-worldview approach is a deliberate effort to break free from this trap. By rejecting a fixed worldview, you’re trying to avoid the blind spots that come with it. You’re saying, “I don’t want to be stuck seeing the world through just one lens—I want to see it from multiple lenses, from every angle, like nature does.” Nature doesn’t judge or pick sides; it just exists, encompassing everything. By aiming for this kind of broad-mindedness, you’re opening yourself up to truths that others might miss because they’re too caught up in their own perspectives.

Metamorality and Empathy:

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.

The idea of "metamorality" ties into this beautifully. Joshua Greene’s concept suggests stepping outside traditional moral frameworks to understand why people act the way they do, even if their actions clash with our values. It’s about seeing the bigger picture of human behavior—why someone might lie, fight, or love—without getting hung up on whether it’s "right" or "wrong" by one standard.

This empathic approach helps you see through the "indoctrinated blindness" that Kahneman’s quote points to. For example, if two people are arguing over politics, their worldviews might make them blind to each other’s good intentions. The non-worldview approach would be to step back, cultivate a bird’s-eye-view, understand both sides, and see the deeper human motivations at play, like fear, hope, or a need for security.

Why Worldviews Aren’t So Worldly:

“To study the self is to forget the self.” ~Dogen

Worldviews are often less "worldly" than we think because they’re shaped by our limited experiences—our culture, upbringing, or what we’ve been taught (cultural conditioning). They’re like maps that only show part of the terrain. The non-worldview approach is about throwing out the map and exploring the world directly, with curiosity and openness. It’s not about having no opinions at all but about holding them lightly, ready to adjust when new perspectives come along.

This flexibility will help you avoid the double blindness Kahneman describes—missing the obvious and not even knowing it. It also teaches a unique type of humility: the ability to be okay with uncertainty, because clinging to a fixed worldview often comes from a need for certainty. By letting go of that need, you can see the world more like nature does—vast, interconnected, and full of possibilities. It’s about cultivating a kind of mental freedom. It’s a way to rise above the noise of human conflicts and biases, and see the world with clearer, more empathic eyes, while avoiding the blindness that keeps us stuck. It’s not easy, but it’s a powerful way to live more openly and wisely in a complex world.

So, what can we do about it?

As we’ve established, worldviews can act like blinders, limiting our ability to see the world as it is. They make us “blind to the obvious” or, worse, “blind to our blindness,” as Kahneman warns. The non-worldview approach seeks to dismantle these rigid frameworks, aiming for a state of broad-mindedness akin to nature’s impartial, all-encompassing perspective. This approach aligns with Joshua Greene’s “metamorality,” where we rise above dogmatic moral codes to understand others’ perspectives with empathy. But how do we actually do this? Let’s break it down…

1.) Practice Counter Weltanschauung Dynamics (CWD):

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” ~Anaïs Nin

Weltanschauung Dynamics is about rejecting a single, rigid worldview and instead embracing a fluid, open-ended approach to understanding reality. It’s like refusing to wear one pair of tinted glasses and instead choosing to see the world with naked eyes, adapting to each new perspective as it comes.

Question your assumptions regularly: Set aside time weekly to reflect on a belief you hold strongly (e.g., about politics, morality, or even daily habits). Ask, “Why do I believe this? What evidence supports it? What might I be missing?” Write down alternative perspectives to challenge your default lens.

Seek out contradictory voices: Engage with people, books, or media that oppose your current views. For example, if you lean progressive, read a well-reasoned conservative perspective—not to argue but to understand. This mirrors CWD’s emphasis on avoiding a fixed worldview.

Practice “Beginner’s Mind”. Borrowed from Zen Buddhism (and aligning with CWD), approach situations as if you’re seeing them for the first time. For instance, when judging a coworker’s decision, pause and imagine you know nothing about them—explore their reasoning with curiosity.

By deliberately loosening your grip on a single worldview, you train your mind to be more flexible, reducing the blind spots Kahneman describes. This aligns with the goal of seeing the world holistically, like nature, which doesn’t cling to one “right” way of being.

As Jiddu Krishnamurti said, “The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.”

2.) Cultivate the Astronaut Overview Effect:

“We are all the leaves of one tree; we are all the waves of one sea.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

The Astronaut Overview Effect is a profound shift in perspective experienced by astronauts when they view Earth from space. They see the planet as a fragile, interconnected whole, free of borders or divisions, which often dissolves their sense of tribalism and fosters a deep sense of unity and empathy.

When caught up in a conflict or judgment, mentally “zoom out.” Imagine you’re looking at the situation from space, where individual disputes seem small compared to the interconnected web of life.

Meditate on interconnectedness. Visualize yourself as part of a larger system—as humanity, as nature, as Cosmos—to foster a sense of unity and reduce attachment to divisive beliefs.

The Overview Effect will help you transcend narrow, ego-driven perspectives. It counters Kahneman’s blindness by reminding you that your worldview is just one tiny piece of a vast, interconnected reality.

Use it to catapult yourself into a big picture perspective despite all the clashing small picture perspectives mucking it all up. Go Meta. Scale up. Usher in a higher perspective and you’ll be better able to self-correct, adapt, and overcome.

3.) Embrace Buddhist Nonattachment:

“You only lose what you cling to.” ~Buddha

Buddhist Nonattachment is the practice of letting go. It doesn’t mean apathy or detachment but rather holding beliefs lightly, allowing you to adapt to new information without being tethered to a fixed worldview. This dovetails with Counter Weltanschauung Dynamics and supports the goal of empathic metamorality.

Practice Letting Go in Small Ways: Start with low-stakes attachments, like your preference for a certain routine. Then gradually apply this to bigger beliefs, like political or moral stances. When a belief arises (e.g., “This person is wrong”), notice it, but don’t cling to it—let it pass like a cloud.

Reframe your identity: Instead of saying “I am a (liberal/conservative/atheist/etc.),” say “I currently lean toward these ideas.” This subtle shift reduces attachment to a fixed identity, making it easier to consider other perspectives.

Nonattachment frees you from the need to defend a worldview, which often fuels blindness to alternative truths. By holding beliefs loosely, you create space for empathy and a more holistic understanding, thus aligning with a vision of seeing through “indoctrinated blindness.”

By integrating Counter Weltanschauung Dynamics, the Astronaut Overview Effect, and Buddhist Nonattachment, you can cultivate a perspective that’s as broad and impartial as nature itself. This approach will not only help you see through your own blind spots but also foster a deeper connection to others, embodying empathic metamorality. It’s a lifelong journey, but each step will bring you closer to seeing the world with holistic, unclouded eyes.

Image source:

Fallen by Stuz0r

About the Author:

Gary Z McGee, a former Navy Intelligence Specialist turned philosopher, is the author of Birthday Suit of God and The Looking Glass Man. His works are inspired by the great philosophers of the ages and his wide-awake view of the modern world.

This article (Why Your Worldview is Not So Worldly) was originally created and published by Self-inflicted Philosophy and is printed here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Gary Z McGee and self-inflictedphilosophy.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this statement of copyright.