Suppose you’re an academic with standing in community and you come across an idea which (i) you’re very confident is false, (ii) you’re very confident is pernicious when believed and acted upon, and (iii) has a large and passionate following. I’m sure you can think of examples...
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Replying to @PereGrimmer
I think somebody worked out to weaponise the common cold.
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Replying to @lastpositivist
I don't understand :/ I don't think there are dangerous ideas. There may be people apparently driven to force by an idea, but I deny any idea had a causal role.
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Replying to @PereGrimmer
Oh I guess I’m assuming that ideas can influence behaviour by (i) changing people’s goals, (ii) changing people’s beliefs about how goals can be achieved, or (iii) changing how effective people are at achieving their goals - with (iii) really just a salient sub type of (ii).
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Replying to @lastpositivist
Yeah, it is counterintuitive but I don't think there's very good evidence for that. Rather, people form goals unconsciously then do behaviors then use whatever justification at hand they can find if necessary. Hence I'm more concerned about controlling people's environments...
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Replying to @PereGrimmer
Those matter too, but why wouldn’t ideas act on ones subconscious?
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Replying to @lastpositivist
Put another way: if the question is how to deal with ideas that have dangerous effects, my first question is whether and when ideas have such effects, empirically. Without empirical knowledge, further theorizing is pointless.
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Well, it’s nice when the guy licensing my berserkergang has mastered enough concepts and facts to imbue my mental break with a warm, grandiose glow.
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