The human mind is not a logical thing

[Az]

There is a great deal of enmity in this world based on the degree to which people base their beliefs on faith and logic. A better understanding of the nature of the mind rather than the nature of logic may lead to a better understanding of this dilema.

The human mind works by building upon accumulated experiences. Withing these experiences we discern patterns and structures. Our brain encodes these patterns as instructions we can follow. The relavance of the instructions is dependent on the emotional weighting our brain applies at the time and is reinforced over time depending on what further experiences we have.

As we grow older our mindset becomes increasingly fixed in its path. We form a supporting infrastructure for our understanding of the world around us and this becomes the filter through which we see the world.

When we are exposed to ideas that do not fit within our vision of the world around us a struggle takes place within our mind. The various structures we have internalized challenge the new information and either accept it or reject it. The more developed our world view is the more likely a new idea is to be rejected.

Various schools of thought form up within society that vie for propogation within peoples minds. From religions to philosophies each attempt to propogate themself in various ways. Over the centuries some have developed extremely effective defenses and counters to the other collection of ideas. It is simply evolution in action. Those ideas which are able to survive and propgate themself do so. Those which cannot whither and pass from our collective consciousness.

The embrace of logic is one such belief system that has entered into our repetoire of mindsets. It attempts to examine the world around us seeking truth. Yet it is not automatically intuitive to the human mind. Its credibility must be proven to the mind and like any other belief system, until it has gained enough emotional weight it will be rejected by the existing dominant mindsets.

Some people have embraced logic and reason to such an extent that it readily overrides other mindset constructs within their enviroment. For others though the struggle is not so clear and for still more their collection of experiences are in no danger of being overridden by such rationalisations.

The core of very strong beliefs are experential in nature. That is the individual knows what they experienced and no amount of rationalisation can over come this. The trouble is that this system does not lend itself to testing ones beliefs. A person that knows they experienced a thing cannot be argued into not believing they experienced it. It is not until something in their life shifts the balance of emotional weighting that characterises their sense of reality that they can shift to another explanation of what they experienced.

Thus if we seek to guide someone to later their beliefs we have to understand how they came to believe what they do. We have to understand that simply telling them what they believe is wrong will not have the desired effect. The best one can do is establish a dialog and continue to provide information that the mind can accept without challenging the core belief set. Building this base of information over time enables the person to pace their own transition as they are able to (should they choose to). The mind however will often resist such alterations unless a strong event forces a reconsideration of the current mindset.

This is applicable whether the matter is religion or politics. It is simply the nature of the mind. Understanding this enables one to avoid the emotional arguments that lead no where. It also enables one to have a sense of direction when trying to help others clear from percieved dangers.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

1. nice post

it wasn't but a few years ago that i came to the realisation (with the help of others) that my mind is always going to be very subjective no matter how objective i believe myself to be. Our behaviour is still very much influenced by the older more 'animalistic' brain structures which lends to reacting (unkowningly) to things with the basic responses such as fear. we have a long way to go. I wish people felt that being more objective was important, i wish that would take the place of religion.

[Trajan]

2. DAMN I like you Az .....

Though Im not sure thats as good for you as it is for me ....

I can (and have) learn(ed) alot from you ....

Sometimes I wonder if these 'battles' we have in DU are nothing more than warfare at the waterhole, defending our beliefs as if they were our life source .... I suppose they really are ....

Keep it coming Az .....