Chapter 6
November 4th, 2009 Posted in Boomer News, social scienceWhy do people believe in weird things? *
Good morning class … I’m Tom Longford … I’ll be substituting for Mrs. Louise Spina this week. This is the senior class in social studies and I believe I have you for an hour today. I see some familiar names here on the attendance list … There are 10 or 11 of you that I remember from Mr. Plunkett’s 5th grade class when I was his assistant.I won’t be sticking to your social studies text book. I gave Mrs. Spina a head’s up on my topic, which she said was okay. I’m just assisting Mrs. Spina. I don’t have a teaching degree. I’m a retired engineer. Mrs. Spina agreed that it would be interesting for me to open up a discussion with this class about science’s role in the social studies curriculum.
The objectives of a social science college course are likeky to be following:
- Expose erroneous myths, superstitions, and other confusions of our time & foster critical understanding of human action and interaction with other humans and their environment.
- Apply the scientific method and body of theories to analyze human actions.
Why people believe in weird things, may turn out to be one of the most important issues of this century. Why? First world leaders with weird beliefs are likely to cause wars. People with weird beliefs are likely to commit violent terrorist acts. Then there are ordinary people like you and me who have immovable weird convictions. If you believe that many human activities we now engage in are unsustainable and are disruptive to the natural balance of the world, Then some seemingly unyielding weird convictions can stifle and delay measures that are designed to create sustainability.
Critical thinking reduces weird thinking … “lock-step thinking” in general increases weird thinking. If you are not a critical thinker, it’s possible you might unwittingly get in lock-step with an ideology of a person you admire … who believes in weird obstructionist things.
What are weird beliefs?
* ( Why people Believe Weird Things … a book by Michael Shermer)
4 Responses to “Chapter 6”
By Tracey Dugdale on Nov 9, 2009
What is the impact of the scientific method on one’s creative thinking? Isn’t creativity an important aspect of being authentically who we are as humans?
“weird” thinking: is something classified as weird based on a person’s belief structure? Why do we all have to agree on everything? Isn’t the richness of this human experience enhanced by all the contrasting experiences we have. If life was not full of contrast wouldn’t it be pretty dull – like looking at a white canvas? My aim is to see the things I don’t like and use this contrasting experience to focus on that which I desire. Why put forth energy toward something that is undesirable? Use the contrasts in life to stimulate creativity and leading edge thinking?
By george on Nov 9, 2009
I agree with every thing you say Tracey. You and I are full of contrast … we are not dull. We do not have intractable beliefs. We will change are out look if someone has a better way. What I’m worried about is the erroneous beliefs handed down genearation to generation. The Irish Protestants and Catholics who were taught as little children to distrust each other … that lasted for 4oo hunderd years! And for some the hate continues.
Major Nidal Hasan could turn out to be a great example, if it turns out to be distrust handed down for many generations, that caused him to kill those soldiers. The science of the brain is now on a roll and has the ability to expose erroneous “weird distructive” thinking. The Internet and TV can spread improved thinking across the world with ease. (Well not with not exactly with ease with so much misinformation). The 21st century is so volative with so many things out of control that humans need to put aside “weird” thinking and work together.
By Tracey on Nov 10, 2009
What is it that makes generations of people follow the same beliefs? Is there an first- hand experience or perhaps there is a story which is passed down with a strong emotion attached which leads us down the same narrow path? What is it about our feelings? And, our experiences which keep us in a place of the past?
There may be someone you know, who experienced being a victim or maybe there is some ridiculous family feud that you have witnessed. This type of contrasting experience (contrasting meaning unwanted) can lead a person to a crossroads, to choose either a forward moving and expanding path or one that is stunted by repeating and reliving the same story from the past. How many people base their beliefs about themselves, about others or some situation, on some experience from the past — whether it was their own or someone else’s?
So, what is it about our thoughts and feelings that keep us stuck in an undesired place? How can we move forward into a desired place and leave the past story (which currently supports our belief structure) behind?
By george on Nov 17, 2009
I’m a little late getting back to you. I decided to put off blogging for the Holidays.
The neuroscientist seem to feel we do not have free will based upon their data. Our subconscious mind and nervous system is always measured as reponding faster than our conscious mind. I think their conclusion is over simplified. I think we do have free will. Maybe I don’t fully understand what they mean by “free will.”
Can I use myself to determine if I have free will? I have to admit that my personality that was formed as a child is pretty much locked in and very difficult to modify. In the book I wrote to you kids I examined 17 personality traits of mine. (10 from the ALNON meeting you suggested I attend). I probably have not completely elimniated any of the 17 … but just knowing them has helped me a lot.
Do I have erroneous beliefs? Is believing that I have free will an erroneous belief … only time will tell. I actually do not think I have any significant erroneous beliefs. You however, might be a better judge of that than I am.