Via Marginal Revolution, I came across an article in the NY Times explaining how MRI evidence shows that partisan thought is based on emotion and not logic.
I explained the same thing in a previous post about politics and genes. We form our political beliefs based on genetic predispositions, and then we adhere to them emotionally without logical thought.
From today's article:
It is possible to override these biases, Dr. Westen said, "but you have to engage in ruthless self reflection, to say, 'All right, I know what I want to believe, but I have to be honest.' "
UPDATE
Some commenters have questioned the link between genes and political belief.
Besides reading the post I linked to above, I also urge you to read this post by the "Libertarian Man of Mystery" which is a truly excellent post explaining how the genes which cause guilt are the same genes which cause liberalism, and the post further explains why Jewish people feel the most guilty and therefore are the most liberal.
A startling article. The hard left and the hard right are not so different after all. They both refuse to listen to any evidence that contradicts pre-held beliefs.
The best part of it is the revelation that, when shutting out unpleasant information, the brain produces a spike in the region that senses "reward or relief"
a hoot
Posted by: Samuel Alito | January 25, 2006 at 12:00 PM
An oversimplification, I think. That some people may be predisposed towards dogmatic views might be understandable. But I seriously doubt that there are 'natural categories' of political predisposition, genetic liberals and genetic conservatives.
Bad enough that the political chart is so skewed towards one-dimensionalism--should we try to ossify this distorted view with pseudoscience?
Posted by: Michael A. Clem | January 25, 2006 at 01:44 PM
Read the NY Times article from the older post, political views are genetic.
Posted by: Half Sigma | January 25, 2006 at 03:02 PM
"further explains why Jewish people feel the most guilty and therefore are the most liberal"
The Jews are liberals?
Uh-huh, so Zimbabweans are philanthropists?
And Americans are all Democrats?
Yeah. Right!
Posted by: probligo | January 26, 2006 at 02:16 PM