As much as we don't like to face it, our beliefs come first and our reasons we use to justify our beliefs follow. The smarter a person is, the better they are at finding justifications for what they already believe.
Long ago, I was a statist. Sure, I didn't trust or want much government standing in my way, but I "knew" government of some sort was necessary. And, even though I really didn't spend much time thinking about it, I could have found lots of ways to justify my beliefs- and would have even argued that the reasons I found were why I believed the way I did, rather than the other way around.
But, those subconscious reasons kept coming up against hard facts and cold reality.
At some point I did start actually thinking about it- oops.
Finally my beliefs began to change. A process that is still ongoing. (Funny, though, it has always moved in the same direction all my life- toward fewer and fewer exceptions justifying external control of others and toward a deeper respect for Rightful Liberty.)
Now I believe liberty is the only reasonable way to approach life. And I am very good at finding reasons I would say cause me to hold that belief.
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Carl Sagan phrased it this way:
ReplyDeleteYou can’t convince
a believer of anything; for their belief
is not based upon evidence,
it’s based
upon a deep seated need to believe.
~Carl Sagan
http://atheism.about.com/library/quotes/bl_q_CSagan.htm
There is a current psychological locution being used to describe this phenomenon -- what is it? I will tend to justify my conclusions even after seeing evidence to the contrary (it's a term similar to "cognitive dissonance", which addresses the resistance to admit a respected axiom or loved guru to be in error). An indwelling desire to validate my philosophy.
I think there is a spiritual (forgive the religious-sounding term) need in many individuals to resent the liberty and/or freedom of others -- perceived or real. Why else would "libertarians" vehemently argue that I am "not truly free" when I insist that one can (and must) begin his freedom right here, right now -- "where he's at".
Étienne de la Boétie was correct nearly 500 years ago when he insisted we simply withdraw our support and the beast will topple.
Sam
I think you are looking for the term "confirmation bias".
Delete"Confirmation bias" it is. Many thanks.
ReplyDelete[I'm inflicted :-( ]
Sam