We shrinks have been saying this for generations: Reasons come second

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Wednesday, August 3. 2011

We shrinks have been saying this for generations: Reasons come second

Beliefs come first; reasons second.

We humans flatter ourselves when we claim to "think" things through, because often our starting point is our conclusion. We rationalize our conclusions and biases, and are attracted to information which confirms them. However, that does not mean that our thoughts are always misguided or wrong.

Our New Hampshire friend has recently discussed the topic:

Anyone who does not know why they hold a particular viewpoint cannot judge fairly whether it should be kept or abandoned. There’s no point in arguing with them.

That's the point. It is in fact a Psychoanalytic point. Two good rules of thumb for introspectives are these: "Don't believe everything you think," and the old AA aphorism, "Feelings aren't facts."

Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in Our Essays, Psychology, and Dr. Bliss, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 15:16 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

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"Objectivity cannot be equated with mental blankness; rather, objectivity resides in recognizing your preferences and then subjecting them to especially harsh scrutiny—and also in a willingness to revise or abandon your theories when the tests fail (as they usually do)."

~Stephen Jay Gould

Hard work, this business of objectivity....

#1 Jephnol (Link) on 2011-08-03 18:29 (Reply)

yea ... but you have to understand what the author said to get to that point. even to agree, you have to understand what he said, that's not inherent as much as you think it is, especially in human society, with our large brains, et al, yet, it is true we inherit these things. When you tell you Mother, when you are older, that you like the smell of bbq, for example, u r telling somebody of whom knows when you might of 1st expressed that sentiment, a few years b 4 u remember anything, and hence, sometimes things convey different things, yet again ... that doesn't mean there aren't languages that have meaning.

#1.1 observor on 2011-08-03 19:15 (Reply)

"If it is ridiculous to attack first principles, it is
more ridiculous to defend them against these same attacks. I shall not defend them." -- Lautreamont

#2 rhhardin (Link) on 2011-08-03 20:52 (Reply)

Beliefs are however not believed in the present.

Beliefs are grammatical tokens in accounts.

"I believed of course that the chair would support my weight" means "I gave it no thought" as an actual fact. (Wittgenstein)

#3 rhhardin (Link) on 2011-08-03 20:55 (Reply)

The comments to the review of Shermer's book are interesting in themselves. I like this one quite a bit: "It would be difficult to imagine how Shermer could relate any information or opinion that wasn't tainted by his militant atheism."

Shermer was probably enjoying a little dopamine buzz as he wrote his book. I'm enjoying one right now, although I am willing to re-evaluate my conclusions and stand corrected, (but for me that's unusual in a comment section on a blog).

#4 Jephnol (Link) on 2011-08-03 21:38 (Reply)

I was attracted to the title, and then, as I saw I was linked, thought "Well, of course I'm going to like the topic, then."

My post was written after receiving yet one more email from my elderly, very liberal uncle, who is bright enough at times, but is simply locked in a rather tribal liberalism. It gives him great pleasure to be among the smart ones, and to look down at The Others. So I attempted to make the general case, and put some energy into reminding myself what gains I get from beliefs myself.

I fancy it is one of the things Jesus was referring to when he insisted we count the cost. But that may be more my thought than his.

#5 Assistant VIllage Idiot (Link) on 2011-08-03 23:50 (Reply)

Coming into adulthood I held one set of beliefs that didn't jive with the real world. I learned that they didn't work and had to painfully relearn and reconstruct my belief system to survive. Reason and observation were the tools I had to use.

So, perhaps in the short run Dr. Bliss is correct but there is hope that people can adjust, given a motivator like pain or pleasure. Perhaps that's why alkies and dopers have to hit bottom before they can improve or our political system needs a crisis to change.

#6 Whitehall on 2011-08-04 11:13 (Reply)

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Wednesday, August 3. 2011

We shrinks have been saying this for generations: Reasons come second