“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” ―Arthur Conan Doyle
I used to think presenting factual information was the way people changed their minds. Now we have all the information we could ever need at our fingertips and it seems we’re more ignorant than ever. Why is that?
From the time we start accumulating information about the…
Excellent article. “There are different routes for developing these heuristics… in one route we objectively discern the information presented and assess the facts. This is like the research and development process. It’s slow, it demands our attention and critical thinking before we form a conclusion. This is sitting down with a book or a newspaper article and reading it with care, considering both the information presented and where it came from, and then digging in deeper to see if that information lines up with other reputable information.”
So many people blindly trust that things are just as they seem, without digging through the cobwebs, skeletons and dust. Looking for the bigger picture objectively will sure change your understanding from what people “want you to know” to what you really know. Trust me, those are not equal.
Sometimes you find out an incredible story of triumph and amazing human kindness. I can’t say that has been what normally happens in my experience, but it is encouraging that sometimes you can still stumble upon something good and right in this world.