I appreciate this comment for many reasons, but mostly because it throws into prominence the role of different values underlying comparisons like the top post’s.
I wish I had the kind of serene acceptance of other people that you seem to have, but I do not. I am inclined to blame people for not making time to research economic, social, and political policy options, since these things are so important. You’re right that it takes time to learn details about which policies are good and which are not, but there are many other factors besides knowledge that are relevant to sustained disagreement. For example, it’s not a matter of time investment for someone to admit it when they realize they are wrong, it’s essentially just a matter of integrity. Most people lack the humility to do this, however. This is repulsive to me, a mindset that values pretending to be right over actually figuring out how to help others. But this mindset is one I feel that most people possess. I strongly wish I believed otherwise, it’s very unpleasant for me to half-despise so many people, but it’s what my view of the facts suggests.
How much of these behaviors (lack of humility, intellectual laziness, etc) that repulse you are driven by evolutionary adaptations to living in a social group and maintaining your status and reputation in your tribe? Agreeing with the popular view in your tribe, and agreeing with tribal leaders to display loyalty, probably has some fitness advantages. Have no empirical data for that, but it’s worth considering as an alternate view, especially if you “strongly wish you believed otherwise” … humility and integrity may not get a chance to step up if higher priority instincts are kicking in to produce these effects.
I appreciate this comment for many reasons, but mostly because it throws into prominence the role of different values underlying comparisons like the top post’s.
I wish I had the kind of serene acceptance of other people that you seem to have, but I do not. I am inclined to blame people for not making time to research economic, social, and political policy options, since these things are so important. You’re right that it takes time to learn details about which policies are good and which are not, but there are many other factors besides knowledge that are relevant to sustained disagreement. For example, it’s not a matter of time investment for someone to admit it when they realize they are wrong, it’s essentially just a matter of integrity. Most people lack the humility to do this, however. This is repulsive to me, a mindset that values pretending to be right over actually figuring out how to help others. But this mindset is one I feel that most people possess. I strongly wish I believed otherwise, it’s very unpleasant for me to half-despise so many people, but it’s what my view of the facts suggests.
How much of these behaviors (lack of humility, intellectual laziness, etc) that repulse you are driven by evolutionary adaptations to living in a social group and maintaining your status and reputation in your tribe? Agreeing with the popular view in your tribe, and agreeing with tribal leaders to display loyalty, probably has some fitness advantages. Have no empirical data for that, but it’s worth considering as an alternate view, especially if you “strongly wish you believed otherwise” … humility and integrity may not get a chance to step up if higher priority instincts are kicking in to produce these effects.