The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science

[Raven]

In a manner of speaking. It's as if our minds automatically filter new information through a lens of our biases; we're more likely to trust information that confirms what we believe, and less likely to trust information that challenges what we believe. We seek confirmation-- most people will read/view/listen to information that conforms to their beliefs.

One statement that is pretty common from people on opposite sides of contentious topics (religion and politics are good examples) will express surprise or consternation that those on the other side can believe the things that they believe. But we have a tendency to bury ourselves in our biases, and our points of view therefore seem painfully obvious to us.

We're built to hang on to our biased beliefs. Which means that if those beliefs are wrong, we'll work really hard to hang on to them anyway.

We don't all hang on the same kind of demonstrably wrong beliefs to the same degree. Some of us are susceptible to corrections of biases in many areas.

It is arguable that even of those who hold a particular belief that actually is demonstratably well founded, a significant portion do so not out of reasoned analysis of the soundness of the foundation, but rather out of a fortuitious biase.

Just because you are right, it doesn't mean you are clever and incisive rather than simply fortuiously biased.

I think you have an interesting point there. Have to see what I can find out about that.