Why we believe what we believe

 

We all like to follow the news and listen to politicians and experts to stay well-informed about issues that matter to us and the rest of the world. We assume that most of our beliefs are correct and not only correct but morally justified. However, we rarely delve into why we believe what we believe. The uneasy truth is that we barely earned any of our beliefs or ever reached conclusions ourselves. We want to think that we can defend our beliefs logically, but we often fail miserably and resort to emotional responses rather than convincing logical ones. 

Therefore, it's vital to engage in introspection to understand the influences on our beliefs and worldview. The answer may not always be clear, but we have the power to introspect and comprehend the influences of genetics, society, parents, education, friends, and media on our beliefs. This introspection is a crucial step that can empower us to critically evaluate our beliefs and make informed decisions.

The most important influence on our thinking as adults is the media. The media is supposed to impartially inform us of WHAT is happening and let every person form their opinion over HOW they think about it. However, we are far from that ideal. As a society, we have given up thinking for ourselves for a long time and have outsourced it to the "experts" like most professions. In the same way that we call an electrician or plumber to do our home maintenance, we rely on the political expert class to think and do our country's maintenance. It may sound reasonable on one level since the expert class has the most knowledge and experience to do a specialized job. However, the analogy fails because many civic and political decisions are not purely technical dilemmas but trade-offs and compromises between different schools of thought where there is no right answer. Therefore, all constituents of a democratic society must be informed and participate in that decision-making. 

Media influence has always been on the rise. Although sensationalism has been part of populist journalism, in the era of the Internet and clickbait, it has graduated to a new category. Cable news and newspapers have continuously blurred the line between news and commentary, cultivating a trusting and unquestioning audience on both sides of the political spectrum. This has contributed to the unprecedented polarization in the United States and most of the developed world.

Amidst all the political craziness, it's always a good idea to revisit central beliefs and trace their origins in our personal lives. Listening to the other side and contrasting that with our own is a big step in that direction. Dialog and learning are more constructive and fun than shouting and shaking a fist.