Cult of Ignorance

I have always found writing and even thinking about philosophy an almost conceited thing. Why would I think I know better than anyone else? Why should my words be immortalized? Why do I write if not to share those words with others? Why do I think them worthy? I’m not setting up the reader with these questions to reveal my answer - I have none. That being said, I take issue with the fact that so many low-thinkers deem their opinions on certain subjects worthy. It’s not that I think they shouldn’t have a right to speak their mind, obviously. It’s the fact that they’re often so god damn arrogant. They think what they have to say on a subject that they’ve done no research outside of Facebook or YouTube on has a right to stand next to expert opinions, evidence and fact. It sounds even more conceited of me, and it probably truly is, but on certain subjects, some people shouldn’t even open their mouths in response to me. I’m no expert on anything, but I guarantee I know the ins and outs of many philosophical subjects more than almost any person you’d find on the street. I’ve thought about the angles. I’ve scrutinized the logic. I’ve stressed myself out for days trying to unravel single ethical conundrums. I’ve struggled to exorcise the fallacies and bias that humans inherently possess within their conscious, swaying their decisions; Most seem not to mind. The battles inside my mind have been glorious and blood-soaked. The ultimate goal of these battles: truth. And after years of work - and yes, it is ‘work’ - I feel my mind is in a good enough place to give my words and thoughts on some subjects at least tentative endorsement. I can trust what I think and feel, or at least, I know enough to know if what I’m thinking is logical and free of bias. I know *how* to think. I’m not being facetious when I say I don’t think many people do. The time I’ve taken to think on philosophical subjects would fill years, I’ve no doubt. With many people, it’s clear much of the time that their first foray into critical thinking is yet to come and they have the audacity to spout ignorance and gleefully proclaim that they’re right - ignoring any evidence to the contrary and parroting fallacy after fallacy that a news channel or parent or video told them. Gallup’s most recent poll on evolution and creationism concluded that 42% of Americans believe god created humans in their present form with no evolution at all. 31% believe that evolution was guided by gods hand. Only 19% believe in god-free evolution. Why is it that, not only the people most apt to excel in logic and philosophy, but also almost all the fucking experts in the field, support the least supported side? Rather, why is it the least supported side? If I had a 10 friends who were all brilliant with degrees in something I don’t know much about like tax legislation and 97% of them believed one thing relating to their field, and 50 other friends with no real knowledge of the subject who disagreed with them, I would go with the people whom I know have spent a MUCH more significant amount of time thinking on those matters - Studying them. Analyzing them - instead of running my mouth like a chode because acknowledging my ignorance is frightening to me and would hurt my fragile ego. Not only this, but the fact that the more knowledge and time spent studying the subject by the 50, the more likely they are to agree with experts? How would you explain that correlation? The majority isn’t always right and the experts aren’t always right, but if you make a habit of betting against the experts and evidence and logic and observation and especially fact, never go to Vegas.

#cultofignorance #isaacasimov #arrogance #evidence