As true as that is, I don’t see how it would lead people to do anything differently—don’t most people already think, er, believe they’re living up to whatever that quote asks of them?
I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure most people labor under the impression they have something like a unity of consciousness, so while “don’t believe everything you see” might seem obvious, “don’t believe everything you think” does not, unless specifically considering situations like hallucinations (which many would categorize under “see” rather than “think”).
ETA: That’s why this is a cornerstone of rationality. Even I am moved to remember the slogan, so that when I think to say, “That’s not true!” I stop and ask myself why I think so and whether I should believe this impulse of mine.
Thanks! Any help with touching up my version so it flows better is much appreciated.
I particularly like the first, since the second clause technically includes literal blindness.
Yes, I think this is particularly important, because the cognition involved in literal seeing is a form of believing: your brain is making inferences before there’s even an image in your mind. (The raw retinal data looks like garbage.)
I estimate most people would lump “don’t believe everything you think” into the space occupied by slogans like “think different” and “question authority”; i.e. at best a generalized endorsement of counterculture ideals, and at worst a cynical attempt to break down any and all ideals in hopes that the gap will be filled by something more congenial to the speaker. The general population is familiar with ideology and unfamiliar with abstract cognition, so unqualified ideas about ideas will usually be taken to refer to the former.
This misconception could be dissolved with half a minute of explanation, but that half minute wouldn’t fit on a bumper sticker.
As true as that is, I don’t see how it would lead people to do anything differently—don’t most people already think, er, believe they’re living up to whatever that quote asks of them?
I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure most people labor under the impression they have something like a unity of consciousness, so while “don’t believe everything you see” might seem obvious, “don’t believe everything you think” does not, unless specifically considering situations like hallucinations (which many would categorize under “see” rather than “think”).
ETA: That’s why this is a cornerstone of rationality. Even I am moved to remember the slogan, so that when I think to say, “That’s not true!” I stop and ask myself why I think so and whether I should believe this impulse of mine.
Okay, in that case, I had come up with with a saying to express that same idea but which makes the implications clearer. Here goes:
“Blindness isn’t when you see nothing; it’s when you see the same thing, regardless of what’s in front of you.
“Foolishness isn’t when your beliefs are wrong; it’s when you believe the same thing, regardless of what you’ve seen.”
I particularly like the first, since the second clause technically includes literal blindness.
I might change “wrong” to “false” when repeating the second.
Thanks! Any help with touching up my version so it flows better is much appreciated.
Yes, I think this is particularly important, because the cognition involved in literal seeing is a form of believing: your brain is making inferences before there’s even an image in your mind. (The raw retinal data looks like garbage.)
I estimate most people would lump “don’t believe everything you think” into the space occupied by slogans like “think different” and “question authority”; i.e. at best a generalized endorsement of counterculture ideals, and at worst a cynical attempt to break down any and all ideals in hopes that the gap will be filled by something more congenial to the speaker. The general population is familiar with ideology and unfamiliar with abstract cognition, so unqualified ideas about ideas will usually be taken to refer to the former.
This misconception could be dissolved with half a minute of explanation, but that half minute wouldn’t fit on a bumper sticker.
Thanks, you said what I was thinking so much better.