So I think this is just down to how we define "intelligence".
The problem I find with those who criticise those who go for their gut opinion on the matter is the fact that all these "facts" the "more knowledgeable" politically minded person knows are also known by other people who are equally knowlegeable but interpret those "facts" completely differently. The Argument From Erudition I call it "Well I've read up on it more than you have so I am more worth listening to", it's like a type of argument from authority. Many people are well-read on the matter but if everyone who read up on it and understood it agreed life wouldn't be this complicated.
The whole problem is this attitude of the person who believes that anyone who disagrees with them must just not understand them or that it's purely a matter of explanation -- hey, it's possible that the other person does understand and maybe you yourself don't , hey it's possible that you explained yourself perfectly well but the other person still disagrees, just because someone disagrees doesn't mean they don't understand.
I'm not going to spend my time getting educated on a politically matter rather than just go with my gut, when in my opinion this is more a matter of our own values and principles rather than trying to discover The Political Truth. I could educate myself throughally on politics but my politics would be biased by my own personal values and principles just like everyone else's is: It's not about learning "facts" because everyone interprets them differently. Our politics is just an outside reflection of how we view the world inside. Ultimately politics should be about philosophy, but sadly the reality is on the outside the actual politicians are disingenuous manipulative fuckwits and what their actual policies and philosophies on the matter is can be very different to what they express, sadly -- who knows what these politicians really think.
I like politics, but I can't stand politicians.
The problem I find with those who criticise those who go for their gut opinion on the matter is the fact that all these "facts" the "more knowledgeable" politically minded person knows are also known by other people who are equally knowlegeable but interpret those "facts" completely differently. The Argument From Erudition I call it "Well I've read up on it more than you have so I am more worth listening to", it's like a type of argument from authority. Many people are well-read on the matter but if everyone who read up on it and understood it agreed life wouldn't be this complicated.
The whole problem is this attitude of the person who believes that anyone who disagrees with them must just not understand them or that it's purely a matter of explanation -- hey, it's possible that the other person does understand and maybe you yourself don't , hey it's possible that you explained yourself perfectly well but the other person still disagrees, just because someone disagrees doesn't mean they don't understand.
I'm not going to spend my time getting educated on a politically matter rather than just go with my gut, when in my opinion this is more a matter of our own values and principles rather than trying to discover The Political Truth. I could educate myself throughally on politics but my politics would be biased by my own personal values and principles just like everyone else's is: It's not about learning "facts" because everyone interprets them differently. Our politics is just an outside reflection of how we view the world inside. Ultimately politics should be about philosophy, but sadly the reality is on the outside the actual politicians are disingenuous manipulative fuckwits and what their actual policies and philosophies on the matter is can be very different to what they express, sadly -- who knows what these politicians really think.
I like politics, but I can't stand politicians.
