The issue of “failing to update” probably deserves its own post. The state of the world tends to change over time. Even people who bother to look stuff up to determine whether their views are in accordance with current reality and revise accordingly can’t afford to constantly keep checking back to see if any relevant facts have changed. The first time you get in an argument you might look the facts up but from then on when the same issue comes up you fall back on your previously-researched conclusion.
This is one reason why old scientists need to die out before new ideas can receive suitable consideration.
I tend to think a lot of positions people hold that appear currently absurd were once validly held—either by that person, or by a source that person respects—at some point in the past. For example, many who think they want stronger gun control laws hold in their heads the idea that you’re much more likely to be mugged in the US than in Great Britain...because that used to be true, back when they first formed their opinions on the subject. Or consider Macintosh versus Winodws arguments that allege Macs are/aren’t more/less expensive and are/aren’t much faster than comparable PCs; all those views are correct, depending on the reference frame of the speaker.
The issue of “failing to update” probably deserves its own post. The state of the world tends to change over time. Even people who bother to look stuff up to determine whether their views are in accordance with current reality and revise accordingly can’t afford to constantly keep checking back to see if any relevant facts have changed. The first time you get in an argument you might look the facts up but from then on when the same issue comes up you fall back on your previously-researched conclusion.
This is one reason why old scientists need to die out before new ideas can receive suitable consideration.
I tend to think a lot of positions people hold that appear currently absurd were once validly held—either by that person, or by a source that person respects—at some point in the past. For example, many who think they want stronger gun control laws hold in their heads the idea that you’re much more likely to be mugged in the US than in Great Britain...because that used to be true, back when they first formed their opinions on the subject. Or consider Macintosh versus Winodws arguments that allege Macs are/aren’t more/less expensive and are/aren’t much faster than comparable PCs; all those views are correct, depending on the reference frame of the speaker.