It may be that believing what we hear / see is an evolutionary survival trait, a built-in cognitive default. I think this because the young of ancient humans h

It may be that believing what we hear / see is an evolutionary survival trait, a built-in cognitive default. I think this because the young of ancient humans had a FAR better chance of survival if they believed their elders. Examples: don't play in those woods or you may get eaten; don't eat THOSE pretty berries or you will get sick and maybe die; here is how you hunt or harvest food; and so on. It is hard to overcome this natural tendency, and without education and effort and a wide variety of sources one can be pretty easily deceived and brainwashed.