Overview
The lecture explores why people resist changing their beliefs, even in the face of strong contrary evidence, using psychological theories and ancient myths as explanatory frameworks.
The Inability to Change Beliefs
- People often refuse to change their minds despite overwhelming evidence against their beliefs.
- This resistance persists even when repeated negative consequences occur, such as poor political outcomes.
- Once beliefs become part of a person’s identity, changing them becomes extremely difficult.
Biblical and Mythological Illustrations
- The Exodus story illustrates how facing chaos and uncertainty makes people cling to old beliefs.
- Pharaoh's refusal to change, despite disasters, shows the tendency to double down rather than accept error.
- The Israelites' long journey in the desert signifies the painful process of adapting to new realities.
Psychological Explanations
- Changing beliefs requires confronting chaos and uncertainty, which causes anxiety and fear.
- “Game principles” or belief systems bring order; challenging them introduces disorder (entropy).
- Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort felt when confronted with evidence against one’s beliefs.
- People often strengthen their beliefs when faced with contradictory information, a paradoxical psychological effect.
- Willful blindness describes the refusal to acknowledge reality to avoid discomfort.
Mythological Case Study: Osiris and Horus
- In Egyptian mythology, Osiris represents a once-vital order that becomes rigid and blind with age.
- Seth, the usurper, exploits this blindness, leading to chaos and the scattering of order.
- Renewal requires the intervention of Horus, the god of clear vision, who restores the ability to “see” and revives proper order.
- The myth emphasizes the importance of awareness and vision in preventing institutional decay.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cognitive Dissonance — Psychological discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs or facing evidence against one's views.
- Willful Blindness — The intentional avoidance of acknowledging facts or reality.
- Entropy — In psychology, the chaos or disorder faced when restructuring belief systems.
- Game Principles — The underlying rules or beliefs that provide structure to one's life.
- Osiris — Egyptian god symbolizing order and tradition, which can become rigid.
- Horus — Egyptian god of vision who restores order by bringing clarity and awareness.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Chapter 7 of "The Parasitic Mind" focusing on cognitive dissonance and truth-seeking.
- Reflect on personal beliefs and identify areas of potential willful blindness.