The age of reason

When there is conflict between our paradigm and another paradigm or external contrary evidence we have cognitive dissonance. This is usually dealt with by ignoring it in the hope that it will go way. We do this individually and collectively. In the process we render ourselves blind to anything about which we don't want to know.

As an example we have a Western paradigm that relies heavily on an oil based society. If we ignore global warming long enough it will go away. Rationality has no place in our paradigms. The challenging of our paradigms can be very difficult and confronting. Cognitive dissonance is a challenge to who we perceive ourselves to be. It is a challenge to our very being and must be resisted.

On the site Beyond Intractability there is a very good audio presentation by Dennis Sandole who uses the Palestinian conflict as an example of cognitive dissonance.

At first cognitive dissonance causes conflict, and the conflict increases until the old paradigm prevails or is overthrown. This might be an intellectual overthrowing or it might be physical. Either way it is unlikely that the new paradigm will be any more successful than the last anymore than a new dictator is likely to be any better than the old dictator.

The age of reason is a myth. We do not listen to each other and if we try we are talking a different language. We will first of all ignore anything that interferes with our paradigm and if we cannot ignore it fight to the bitter end to maintain it. We just don't learn. It is comforting to know that there are rational explanations as to why we are not rational. Maybe someday psychologists might be able to work out how to overcome cognitive dissonance and the conflict and killing can stop.