"We can mistake a strong feeling for a rationally formed idea and those are very much not the same thing."
Given the current divisive political situation in America, that wise line of yours above made me think of how we form our political views and then made me think of this observation, which I've certainly fallen prey to.
In Anna Karenina, Tolstoy enters the mind of Stiva, a wealthy character reading the same morning paper that everyone else in his wealthy social set reads.
“[He] had not chosen his political opinions or his views; these political opinions and views had come to him of themselves, just as he had not chosen the shapes of his hat and coat, but simply took those that were being worn. And for him, living in a certain society…to have views was just as indispensable as to have a hat.”
Similar to Mill on Liberty! We often mistake what feels familiar for what is good, right or true. But then, we’re a dumb species of endearing, clever infuriating idiots.
I don't know how you managed to write a must-read post that mentions rotten pears, screaming toddlers, cognitive shortcuts, ray guns, wells and mattresses, Robert Nozick, sibling marriage (eww, but still: discuss!), moral rights, weird dudes, and trampolines, but once again, I'm thankful you did. Brilliant! Also, gotta ask, WHAT HAPPENED WTH THE WIERD DUDE? And in the future, please know that, should he return, there are probably at least a thousand of us readers here who'll gladly knock on his door for you, and tell him, "Ya got something to say to her? Then say it to all of us, sir. By the way, you need a shower." Freaking creep...
"We can mistake a strong feeling for a rationally formed idea and those are very much not the same thing."
Given the current divisive political situation in America, that wise line of yours above made me think of how we form our political views and then made me think of this observation, which I've certainly fallen prey to.
In Anna Karenina, Tolstoy enters the mind of Stiva, a wealthy character reading the same morning paper that everyone else in his wealthy social set reads.
“[He] had not chosen his political opinions or his views; these political opinions and views had come to him of themselves, just as he had not chosen the shapes of his hat and coat, but simply took those that were being worn. And for him, living in a certain society…to have views was just as indispensable as to have a hat.”
Similar to Mill on Liberty! We often mistake what feels familiar for what is good, right or true. But then, we’re a dumb species of endearing, clever infuriating idiots.
I don't know how you managed to write a must-read post that mentions rotten pears, screaming toddlers, cognitive shortcuts, ray guns, wells and mattresses, Robert Nozick, sibling marriage (eww, but still: discuss!), moral rights, weird dudes, and trampolines, but once again, I'm thankful you did. Brilliant! Also, gotta ask, WHAT HAPPENED WTH THE WIERD DUDE? And in the future, please know that, should he return, there are probably at least a thousand of us readers here who'll gladly knock on his door for you, and tell him, "Ya got something to say to her? Then say it to all of us, sir. By the way, you need a shower." Freaking creep...
Thank you Ronnie!