5.Groundless Beliefs(699)

Ninth grade rewrite

Groundless Beliefs

【1】In the future, we will start to classify statements based on their reasons. We will ask, "How do we know this? What evidence do we have for believing it? What is the basis for this statement?" We might be surprised at how many things we say every day that we can't really prove. They are just based on tradition or someone's word without any proof...

【2】Maybe we accepted a belief because of a simple suggestion, and we've kept it ever since. Maybe someone told us something when we were too young to question it. Many of our strongest beliefs were formed in childhood, and now it's hard to even question them. They seem obviously true to us. But if two people from different backgrounds were raised in opposite ways, they would likely have opposite beliefs. This is consistent with what we know about psychology.

【3】The same goes for many beliefs, not just religious ones. If we grew up in a place where practices like polygamy or head-hunting were normal, we would think they were natural and moral. If an English baby was raised in Germany and didn't know they were English, their beliefs would be German, not English. Many of our beliefs are just because we were raised with them.

【4】As we grow up, we continue to adopt new beliefs without really thinking about them. This is why newspapers and advertising have such a big impact. We often just repeat ideas without questioning them. Most people are like parrots, repeating what they hear.

【5】We should be careful with beliefs that are just accepted because "everyone says so." These beliefs might have been passed down for generations, but they started at a time when people knew less. So, just because a belief is old doesn't mean it's right.

【6】We should especially be careful with beliefs that seem obviously true. When we feel that questioning an opinion is absurd, unnecessary, or wrong, we should know that it's not a rational belief. Throughout history, many "obvious truths" have been proven wrong when we learned more.

【7】For example, for a long time, slavery was seen as natural and right. It was hard to imagine the planets moving in any way other than circles. It was thought that the heart, not the brain, was the center of consciousness. And it was believed that a heavier object would fall faster than a lighter one.

【8】We hold some beliefs because they benefit us. Modern psychology shows that we adopt and stick to beliefs that are good for us, even if we don't realize it. But it's wrong to say that all opinions are based on self-interest.

【9】We should be suspicious of our opinions when we realize that our happiness depends on holding them, or when we might lose something by changing our mind. We might hold an opinion because it justifies our actions or character. For example, a coward might adopt a philosophy that seems to justify cowardice.

【10】Many beliefs are held because of sentimental reasons. They are connected to memories of people who held similar views. For instance, someone who was against their father might always be against their father's opinions.

【11】Our opinions are also influenced by what is popular at the time. We tend to believe what others in our group believe. But we don't always change our beliefs with every change in fashion. Some people hold their opinions because they were popular a long time ago.

【12】Once we accept an opinion, it tends to stay with us. The more we think a certain way, the easier it is to keep thinking that way. Our minds can become fixed, and it's hard to change our beliefs.

【13】We should always be open to new ideas and willing to change our minds. Some people always want to find out the facts and think things through clearly, no matter what the truth turns out to be. For these people, this article is written.

九年级改写

无根据的信仰

【1】以后，我们将开始根据理由对语句进行分类。我们会问:“我们是怎么知道的?我们有什么证据相信它?这种说法的依据是什么?”我们可能会惊讶于我们每天说了多少我们无法证明的事情。他们只是基于传统或某人的话，没有任何证据…

【2】也许我们因为一个简单的建议而接受了一种信仰，并从此保留了下来。也许有人在我们还小的时候告诉过我们什么。我们许多最坚定的信念都是在童年时期形成的，现在甚至很难质疑它们。对我们来说，它们显然是真实的。但是，如果两个来自不同背景的人在相反的方式下长大，他们可能会有相反的信仰。这与我们对心理学的了解是一致的。

【3】不只是宗教信仰，许多信仰也是如此。如果我们成长在一个一夫多妻制或猎头是正常行为的地方，我们会认为它们是自然和道德的。如果一个英国婴儿在德国长大，不知道自己是英国人，他们的信仰就会是德国的，而不是英国的。我们的许多信仰只是因为我们从小就有这样的信仰。

【4】随着我们的成长，我们不断地接受新的信仰，却没有真正地去思考它们。这就是为什么报纸和广告有如此大的影响。我们经常只是重复一些想法而不去质疑它们。大多数人都像鹦鹉一样，重复他们听到的话。

【5】我们应该小心那些因为“人人都这么说”而被接受的信仰。这些信仰可能已经传承了几代人，但它们开始于人们知之甚少的时期。所以，一个古老的信仰并不意味着它就是正确的。

【6】我们应该特别小心那些看起来明显正确的信念。当我们觉得质疑一种观点是荒谬的、不必要的或错误的，我们应该知道这不是一个理性的信念。纵观历史，当我们了解得更多时，许多“显而易见的真理”被证明是错误的。

【7】例如，在很长一段时间里，奴隶制被认为是自然和正确的。很难想象行星不是绕着圆圈运动的。人们认为意识的中心是心脏，而不是大脑。人们认为，较重的物体会比较轻的物体下落得更快。

【8】我们持有某些信念是因为它们对我们有益。现代心理学表明，我们接受并坚持对我们有益的信念，即使我们没有意识到这一点。但是说所有的观点都是基于个人利益是错误的。

【9】当我们意识到我们的幸福取决于坚持自己的观点时，或者当我们改变主意可能会失去一些东西时，我们应该怀疑自己的观点。我们可能持有一种观点，因为它为我们的行为或性格辩护。例如，一个懦夫可能会采用一种似乎为懦弱辩护的哲学。

【10】人们持有许多信仰是出于情感上的原因。它们与持有类似观点的人的记忆有关。例如，反对父亲的人可能总是反对父亲的意见。

【11】我们的观点也受到当时流行的东西的影响。我们倾向于相信我们群体中的其他人所相信的。但我们并不总是随着时尚的变化而改变我们的信仰。有些人坚持自己的观点，因为他们很久以前很受欢迎。

【12】一旦我们接受了一种观点，它就会一直伴随着我们。我们越是以某种方式思考，就越容易保持这种思维方式。我们的思想会变得固定，很难改变我们的信念。

【13】我们应该随时接受新思想，愿意改变自己的想法。有些人总是想弄清事实，把事情想清楚，而不管事实是什么。对这些人来说,这是命中注定的。