I think one mental motion that might be happening is that people often have a vague sense that there are deep reasons for their own position even though those deep reasons aren’t properly enumerated in the public discourse. When they compare this feeling of philosophical depth in their own position to the perceived shallowness of the opponents’ public position the opponent seems like some sort of gullible idiot. But the person on the other side is in the exact same position.
I think one mental motion that might be happening is that people often have a vague sense that there are deep reasons for their own position even though those deep reasons aren’t properly enumerated in the public discourse. When they compare this feeling of philosophical depth in their own position to the perceived shallowness of the opponents’ public position the opponent seems like some sort of gullible idiot. But the person on the other side is in the exact same position.