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What is it "totally indefensible"? Frankly, the virtue that someone can change their opinions when presented with further convincing evidence is far more a sig
by basilgohar 7y ago
What is it "totally indefensible"? Frankly, the virtue that someone can change their opinions when presented with further convincing evidence is far more a sign of maturity than one who rigidly accepts something based on authority.
To make my point clearer, the vast majority of people accept their understanding of the world around them based on what others have explained to them or what kinds of media they have consumed. If those sources are faulty, our understanding will be similarly faulty.
I cannot intuitively, by myself, derive that the Moon landings are real nor that they actually happened. The technology to fake the videos (amongst the clearest evidence) is and has been around for longer than the Apollo program. The good character of the astronauts that landed (thus, they are believeable) has been emulated by figures in movies and actors and even politicians until they fell from grace. Large-scale lies by governments and other powerful entities have long been propagated and continue to be so (hence why we're even having this discussion, so I guess this a bit self-referential) include the doubts about environmental or health impacts of large-scale industry and commercial consumption.
Societies have long accepted ideas that are later proven to be regressive, backwards, or just plain wrong. Slavery of blacks, ownership of women, geocentric universe, 6000 year old world. Moreover, these things come-and-go, and we'll find ourselves backtracking on some ideas that we think are good now once the consequences catch-up to us (plastic, lifestyle choices, and more).
The fact is, lots of people hold contradictory world/universe views, beliefs, and more. People will never all be unanimously agreed on something. In fact, it may be considered a hallmark of our nature. Therefore, the virtue is not in accepting one blessed set unconditionally. It lies in being able to adapt and grow closer to truth once a clear, convincing evidence has been presented.