#rationalization — Public Fediverse posts

A quotation from Lincoln

   If A. can prove, however conclusively, that he may, of right, enslave B. — why may not B. snatch the same argument, and prove equally, that he may enslave A?
   You say A. is white, and B. is black. It is color, then; the lighter having the right to enslave the darker? Take care. By this rule, you are to be slave to the first man you meet, with a fairer skin than your own.
   You do not mean color exactly? — You mean the whites are intellectually the superior of blacks, and, therefore, have the right to enslave them? Take care again. By this rule, you are to be slave to the first man you meet, with an intellect superior to your own.
   But, say you, it is a question of interest; and, if you can make it your interest, you have the right to enslave another. Very well. And if he can make it his interest, he has the right to enslave you.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) American lawyer, politician, US President (1861-65)
Note (1854-07-01?), On Slavery (fragment)

More about this quote: wist.info/lincoln-abraham/5166…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #lincoln #abrahamlincoln #debate #enslavement #justification #racism #rationalization #reasoning #slavery #superiority

A quotation from Molière

My first reaction was to be afraid
This ardor was a snare the Devil had laid;
And I avoided you as a temptation
That might stand in the way of my salvation.
But finally I knew, O gracious beauty,
That passion need not be at odds with duty,
That I can reconcile it with propriety;
And so I yield to it without anxiety.
 
[D’abord j’appréhendai que cette ardeur secrète
Ne fût du noir esprit une surprise adroite;
Et même à fuir vos yeux mon cœur se résolut,
Vous croyant un obstacle à faire mon salut.
Mais enfin je connus, ô beauté tout aimable!
Que cette passion peut n’être point coupable,
Que je puis l’ajuster avecque la pudeur;
Et c’est ce qui m’y fait abandonner mon cœur.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 3, sc. 3 (1669) [tr. Frame (1967)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/moliere/78379/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #moliere #tartuffe #ardor #carnality #decency #devil #justification #lust #passion #rationalization #temptation #selfinterest

A quotation from Hannah Arendt

In their moral justification, the argument of the lesser evil has played a prominent role. If you are confronted with two evils, thus the argument runs, it is your duty to opt for the lesser one, whereas it is irresponsible to refuse to choose altogether. […] Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil forget very quickly that they chose evil.

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Essay (1964-08), “Personal Responsibility Under Dictatorship,” The Listener Magazine

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/arendt-hannah/45553/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #arendt #hannaharendt #binary #brightline #choice #evil #goodandevil #lesserevil #lesseroftwoevils #morality #necessaryevil #rationalization #selfjustification

A quotation from Ambrose Bierce

REASON, v.i. To weight probabilities in the scales of desire.

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) American writer and journalist
“Reason,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/bierce-ambrose/77706…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #ambrosebierce #devilsdictionary #desire #objectivity #probability #reason #subjectivity #wishfulthinking #rationalization

a few notes on a Linda Rising's talk

"Realize up front that this is hard".

Cognitive dissonance: contradictory "evidence" causes severe cognitive discomfort.

* We are not rational decision-makers
* but we are good at explaining after-the-fact why we made a decision – a pattern called rationalization.

Two thirds of people will not consider an idea until "somebody they know pretty well, is doing it, is happy with it, talks about it […] so maybe i might think about it".
To convince,
* you must address: "What's in it for me?" – requires empathy;
* you can use the values of your opponent. (Loyalty or fairness?)

A pattern of personal touch: walk a mile in the other's shoes
Another pattern: "Give it a try"
Another pattern: listen
Another pattern: ask for something personal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrCD1wmK9oM via @matthew

#conversations #memory #neuroscience #campaigning #narratives #storyTelling #morality #socialPsych #socialPsychology #facilitation #rationalization #values #influence #LindaRising #morals #principles

We are doomed:

“Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds” [2017], The New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds).

Via HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42036733

#Reason #Facts #Biases #Rationalization #Irrational #Psychology #Ignorance #DoubleDown