Explore the motivation behind "rational ignorance"
January 22, 2021 08:18 Source: "China Social Sciences" January 22, 2021, Issue 2096 Author: Reporter Wang Youran

The rapid development of information technology makes information production present a large volume、Multi -type characteristics,The scope of information dissemination is wider、Fast speed,The tools and ways to obtain information are also richer and richer、Convenient。This significantly reduces people's knowledge、Knowing the obstacles of the world。But,Whether it is individual or group,Actions that ignore or negate scientific discovery and other evidence still exist。For this,Researcher at the Christian Academy of the University of Cambridge University、Scientific philosophy and spiritual philosophy researcher Daniel Williams recently issued a post on the official website of the London School of Political Economics,The phenomenon of actively choosing ignorance is deeply rooted in people's individual cognition and social connection,We need to analyze the motivation behind "knowledge" or "unknown"。

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French Market Research Company Yippso has carried out public opinion surveys in multiple countries since 2012.,To understand the gap between people’s cognition and reality。results show,In climate change、Number of immigrants、bet365 Play online games Causes of population deaths and many other issues,The public is often ignorant or "misunderstanding" for basic facts and scientific consensus.。Groups for decision -making based on ignorance or error information may cause serious consequences,Provide it with more information、Providing the correct information seems to be a rational countermeasure。Williams proposed,Group ignorance is harmful to the entire society,But in terms of personal,Ignorance is often a "strategic response" when knowledge and personal interests conflict。

Obtaining knowledge is to pay costs。For example,During the election period,An ordinary citizen wants to submit a vote if he wants to be responsible,It takes a lot of time and energy to understand the situation of each candidate,But this vote is likely to not bring any benefits to the voter himself。That is to say,The income and cost ratio of "Interesting" is very low,Especially for other things that are more interesting or have a greater impact on yourself。So,People choose "rational ignorance"。This concept was first proposed by American economist Anthony Downs in the book "Democratic Economic Theory" (1957) for the first time,The meaning is that when the cost of obtaining information is higher than the potential income,"Unknown" is a choice made by people based on rationality。

In the field of people who are very interested and master a lot of information,bet365 best casino games People may still choose "rational ignorance"。Studies by Brendan Nyhan, a professor at the government department of Datmouth College, USA,Those who are interested in politics often confident in their views,Although their views contrary to the established knowledge and the evidence that can be easily obtained。For this phenomenon,Williams explained with "rational motivation ignorance",Ignorance is from knowledge、"Keeping Knowledge" instead of gaining knowledge、The expected cost driver of "Interesting"。Knowledge is power,But many times it is also "burden",and ignorance may separate people from the painful truth and responsibility,Help people support their own sense of value and sense of belonging。When the knowledge leads to the uncomfortable truth or conflict with the positive self -image,People often take the initiative to choose ignorance。More importantly,Ignorance is often a "strategic reaction" of social incentive factors。Research by Eric Funkhouser, a professor at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Arkansas,In many communities,Belief is a sign of group identity and solidarity。Given the new evidence, the abandonment of the old belief not only means changing your own thoughts,There are still risks that have lost their status in the community。This incentive factors push people to the social adaptive beliefs that wrap people in their identity and pride。

 Social rewards and punishments affect beliefs formed

According to Williams Introduction,Social rewards and punishment and identity in the group,It has an important impact on the formation of human beliefs。It has an important impact on the formation of human beliefs。For example,Scientists generally believe that human activities are leading to climate warming,If you do not take action decisively,The cost will be extremely high。But,Many people choose to ignore or completely deny the existence of climate change,This aspect stems from acknowledging the real existence of climate warming, it will make people feel anxious、Despair、weak,On the other hand,For many people,Decree or despise the warming of the climate is a sign to seek cultural identity and identity in the group。

In a national public opinion survey at the Pew Research Center in the United States,When asked, "Carbon dioxide、Hydrogen、、中,What kind of gases do scientists think are the most likely to cause the atmospheric temperature to rise? ",About 60%of the respondents gave the correct answer,and this has nothing to do with their political position (Democratic Party or Republican)。But,When asked about whether global warming is conclusive evidence,Democratic Party interviewees and Republican interviewees give the proportion of the correct answer.,The former exceeds 85%,The latter is less Bet365 app download than 50%。This description,People will be based on group positions and social rewards and punishments,Make a choice of "knowledge" or "unknown"。

The public's attitude towards the theory of biological evolution shows similar situation。According to the research of Andrew Shtulman and others at the professor of psychology at the Western College of Western Academy in the United States,Whether people believe that the impact of evolution theory is closely related to their identity。With the increase of scientific knowledge,People who identify highly "secularization" believe that the possibility of evolution theory is rising,People who identify highly "religious" do not believe that the possibility of evolution theory is rising。

  The incentives behind ignorance

For "rational motivation ignorance",Williams said,The "rational" here refers to tool rationality,that is, it enables individuals to successfully achieve its own purpose。When a person makes a decision to maintain ignorance,It is often because of the cost and income of this move,Therefore, motivation ignorance is rational。Of course,The motivation is often unreasonable at the level of understanding,It hinders the production of knowledge。When a person's motivation ignorance causes damage to others,It may still be a violation of ethics。Many times driving people from understanding rationality is not unreasonable or cost -benefit analysis,Instead of calibrated bet365 best casino games rational self -interest,When the pursuit of truth and social experience conflict,For the former, the latter can bring the actual benefits。

Williams thinks,People cannot understand ignorance phenomenon in a pure episodes。People are social animals,A person's knowledge orientation is strategic。In a sense,Scientific knowledge may threaten the illusion of comfort,Social relations that shakes people depends on gaining meaning and belonging。If you want to reduce ignorance,Must focus on the root cause of the problem -reduce the cost of individual acquisition and recognition of knowledge。When members of a group need to marker their group identity with a lack of beliefs,Multiple measures and guarantee that individuals can not give up on the premise that they do not give up their pursuit of knowledge,Keep the identity of the group member who focuses on their values。To solve the problem of "rational motivation ignorance" requires the use of complex and strict personal and collective strategies,and formulating and implementing such a strategy must first more accurately understand the actual incentive factors that drive people to avoid the truth。

Editor in charge: Changchang
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