RE: Study:Strongly held incorrect beliefs often cannot be changed by disputing facts
May 22, 2014 at 8:43 pm
One need only argue with one of our theists for a couple of posts to know that's true.
Anyone familiar with me knows I can be very recalcitrant, but both my political and religious opinions are nearly complete opposites over what they used to be. This wasn't accomplished by directly arguing with a person whose viewpoints were different, but by observing other people have the debate without me and seeing one side continuously describe reality better than the other.
You'll never change empty minds by engaging them directly, but someone else's mind might be changed by watching.
Anyone familiar with me knows I can be very recalcitrant, but both my political and religious opinions are nearly complete opposites over what they used to be. This wasn't accomplished by directly arguing with a person whose viewpoints were different, but by observing other people have the debate without me and seeing one side continuously describe reality better than the other.
You'll never change empty minds by engaging them directly, but someone else's mind might be changed by watching.
