How Ideas Behave 2: Variation in Knowledge

Human beliefs are weird and wonderful

(Previous in this series: Tales of Blood.)

Few things are more human than communicating. In speech or writing, casually or professionally, people produce constant streams of talk. Some is expressive or imperative: Ah, crap! Go away! But much is descriptive, saying something about the world, telling us a million varieties of who, what, when, where, and why.

These ideas can touch on just about anything. We talk about ourselves and our feelings, our friends and their problems, celebrities and their scandals, historical figures and their deeds, animals and their habits, chemicals and their uses, God and His will. Some statements are mundane observations, casual small talk that is quickly forgotten. Others are innovative scientific theories, or prophecies that will become sacred scripture.

Often these ideas are compatible, but sometimes they are not. Many Americans in 2022 were divided about whether or not Covid-19 vaccines were safe and effective, whether the last presidential election was legitimate or unfairly rigged, and whether a champion swimmer was a woman or a man.

People get quite worked up over clashes of belief. They might go to great lengths to advance one belief against another – to support the truth, debunk falsehood, and suppress misinformation. Inquisitors identify and kill heretics, dissidents risk their lives to distribute subversive pamphlets, and orators pour their heart into great speeches. 

Even if it is excessive, the concern with ideas is understandable. Ideas have consequences outside of the fact that people often fight over them. To the extent we believe them, we alter are behavior in accord with them. Which ideas they accept help determine whether people get vaccinated or not, whether they riot or not, whether they gave her a trophy or ban him from the competition.

Ideas are serious business.