Class inferiority functions as an empirically unfalsifiable sense of the rulers’ hidden worth.

Evidence

There is a way, then, in which inferiority is less class consciousness than class unconsciousness, less about experience than about an unthought precondition of experience. Inferiority is in this sense an ontological hypothesis that is not susceptible to any empirical refutation. Confronted with evidence of the incompetence or corruption of the ruling class, you will still feel that, nevertheless, they must possess some agalma, some secret treasure, that confers upon them the right to occupy the position of dominance. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 501

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines inferiority as class unconsciousness, an ontological hypothesis immune to empirical refutation.
• XREF: connects to: System justification drives even disadvantaged groups to internalize inferiority — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1399; Perceived instability plus illegitimacy spurs subordinate groups to reject inferiority; Political membership exclusions historically rest on naturalistic claims of inferiority. — Douglas A. Kysar, Regulating from Nowhere: Environmental…, 478

Broader Connections

• System justification drives even disadvantaged groups to internalize inferiority #corroborates (0.80) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1399
• Perceived instability plus illegitimacy spurs subordinate groups to reject inferiority #contradicts (0.75)