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That’s too strong of a statement. Those that do ask themselves might then moderate and thus not become the subjects of people’s outrage. They might also be so

That’s too strong of a statement. Those that do ask themselves might then moderate and thus not become the subjects of people’s outrage. They might also be so far down the road of evildoing that every time they do ask themselves, they cling to any excuse that they’re not the baddies.

enriquto 6y ago
> They might also be so far down the road of evildoing that every time they do ask themselves, they cling to any excuse that they’re not the baddies. This describes nearly all of us. You can semi-honestly ask yourself if you are acting good, and mostly about non-essential stuff. But deep down it's just a rhetoric exercise. It is essentially impossible to question your fundamental beliefs. Also, it is easy to verify that this is the case: have you ever held contradictory fundamental beliefs? Not at the same time, of course, but along the years? Like, something that you thought was an immutable basis of your opinion when you were 18, and when you become 35 you think about it and it is obviously wrong. Do you think you were capable at 18 of asking that question to yourself? Do you think you are now capable to do so, regarding your current fundamental thoughts? I may lie and say that I do, but I'm actually incapable to really question my deep beliefs about justice and fairness (even if at some time in the past I held the opposite beliefs!).
- Swenrekcah 6y ago
  I think I understand what you mean but I’d say the first step along the way to acquiring different fundamental beliefs is the step of questioning your current ones.
  - robin21 6y ago
    I good exercise for everyone is to take the other side of the argument and try to win as best you can. The sad thing is that there really is no venue to debate ideas anymore without either side banning the other for “trolling”.
  - beaconstudios 6y ago
    in my experience, the best way to improve your beliefs is to listen open-mindedly to the direct opposite beliefs, argued coherently by someone who believes them as strongly as you believe your own beliefs. You can either find a flaw in their reasoning, or you may end up synthesising their beliefs and yours into a greater whole.
humanrebar 6y ago
You can be a subject of outrage without being one of the baddies.
- Swenrekcah 6y ago
  Of course, but if you’re a landlord and raise prices until you think that perhaps you don’t need to raise them more even though you could, you don’t get any articles written about you. Unless you’d go bragging about it yourself but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

enriquto 6y ago

> They might also be so far down the road of evildoing that every time they do ask themselves, they cling to any excuse that they’re not the baddies. This describes nearly all of us. You can semi-honestly ask yourself if you are acting good, and mostly about non-essential stuff. But deep down it's just a rhetoric exercise. It is essentially impossible to question your fundamental beliefs. Also, it is easy to verify that this is the case: have you ever held contradictory fundamental beliefs? Not at the same time, of course, but along the years? Like, something that you thought was an immutable basis of your opinion when you were 18, and when you become 35 you think about it and it is obviously wrong. Do you think you were capable at 18 of asking that question to yourself? Do you think you are now capable to do so, regarding your current fundamental thoughts? I may lie and say that I do, but I'm actually incapable to really question my deep beliefs about justice and fairness (even if at some time in the past I held the opposite beliefs!).

Swenrekcah 6y ago
I think I understand what you mean but I’d say the first step along the way to acquiring different fundamental beliefs is the step of questioning your current ones.
- robin21 6y ago
  I good exercise for everyone is to take the other side of the argument and try to win as best you can. The sad thing is that there really is no venue to debate ideas anymore without either side banning the other for “trolling”.
- beaconstudios 6y ago
  in my experience, the best way to improve your beliefs is to listen open-mindedly to the direct opposite beliefs, argued coherently by someone who believes them as strongly as you believe your own beliefs. You can either find a flaw in their reasoning, or you may end up synthesising their beliefs and yours into a greater whole.

humanrebar 6y ago

You can be a subject of outrage without being one of the baddies.

Swenrekcah 6y ago
Of course, but if you’re a landlord and raise prices until you think that perhaps you don’t need to raise them more even though you could, you don’t get any articles written about you. Unless you’d go bragging about it yourself but that’s not what we’re talking about here.