Confidence in our correctness

In general people have an inordinate confidence in the correctness of their own beliefs. They defend them with great vigour, with great emotional attachment.

Why is it that they defend their views with such fervour?

Clearly there are some things where belief is pretty easy, the answers pretty obvious. A lot of these sorts of belief have to do with our ability to manipulate the world; how to respond to events; and, how to steer our bodies. Those sorts of things are usually fairly easy to get a handle on.

Here is a thought: if you had been exposed to the information I’ve been exposed to you would be more likely to believe the things that I believe. This is a general rule for all of us.

So then the question becomes what sorts of things can we easily believe and have pretty certain knowledge about and what sorts of things are more problematic?

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