Quote:
Quote by: Captain Cardio  People don't act (or decide how they want society to function) in any significant way to suit their beliefs. Rather, they subconciously decide how they want to act (or society to be), and then find beliefs that suit what they want.
This would mean that beliefs are basically irrelevant, and are just manufactured excuses, or a way to glorify or substantiate one's own way of wanting things.
Is this possible, does this idea hold any substance?
Thoughts? |
I would tend to agree with the statement in that it applies to most people. It seems to me that people believe in things that tend to serve their own self-interests. With few notable exceptions, the wealthy who benefit from the market economy believe in the "market" and capitalism. Folks in the wealthy's factories support unions and social programs which provide services that, unlike the wealthy, they cannot afford to buy on the open market. These are general statements and no doubt there would be many individual exceptions.
I would also add that early childhood indoctrination is a powerful determinant of beliefs. For example, most religious people adhere to the religion in which they were raised. There are few, but some, converts. It is irrational to believe that the religion into which
you just happen to be born just happens to be the right one--and all the others are in error. If you thought your religion wasn't the right one, the correct one, why would you stay in it? The early childhood indoctrination also plays a major part in what people believe about other races, economic classes, political affiliation, etc.
At any rate, your basic assertion suggests that a--if not "the"--major determinant of beliefs, and probably ethics and values, is self-interest and not careful consideration.