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Many of our ideas about the world are based more on feelings than facts, sensibilities than science, and rage than reality. We gravitate toward ideas that make us feel comfortable in areas such as religion, politics, philosophy, social justice, love and sex, humanity, and morality. We avoid ideas that make us feel uncomfortable. This avoidance is a largely unconscious process that affects our judgment and gets in the way of our ability to reach rational and reasonable conclusions. By understanding how our mind works in this area, we can start embracing uncomfortable ideas and be better informed, be more understanding of others, and make better decisions in all areas of life.
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I always go by the somewhat new agey apothegm: "whatever somebody else thinks about me is none of my business".
Likewise, with any argumentative riposte, ad hominem insult, or misological slur these days (the days of illogic, anti-science, religious and political fanaticism, and internet thuggery) I adhere to the concept: theconversation.com/no-yo. . . via @ConversationEDU " target=_blank>NO, You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to what you can argue for.” theconversation.com/no-yo. . . via @ConversationEDU <> I also strongly believe it is a mistake to buy into the notion that you're going to successfully convince or persuade anyone however carefully you articulate your argument. In fact, studies confirm that informal argument with fanatics only succeeds in making them more, well, fanatical. Remember the meme about arguing with creationists is like playing chess with a pigeon? (They just knock all the pieces down and crap all over the chess board). The best you can do is plant a grape seed in their cognitive processes and let it go without any further attachment. Sometimes it takes a while for a truth or factoid to settle in. If they're not ready for it, there's nothing you can do but make the best argument you can for your own edification and skill set. No one else's. |
answered on Saturday, Jan 18, 2020 11:48:22 AM by mchasewalker |
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