Delusions

[Martin Hash]

People are delusional, and they are in denial about their delusions. Why? Because we harbor an image of life that is simply not true but we have been spoon-fed propaganda since infancy, and it is virtually impossible to break free of those preconceptions. It is not like we do not intellectually recognize this fact – consider the abundance of metaphors for self-deception: “looking at the world through rose-colored glasses,” “fooling yourself,” “living in a fantasy land.” Even iconoclasts fail to see the true completeness of our imaginary life because it is oftentimes better to wallow in the soothing embrace of delusion than to suffer the harsh grasp of reality. Only the higher cognitive powers of humans allow us to recognize this fact about ourselves, and we can either choose to ignore it or confront it.

Fundamental examples of why we are deluded surround us. For one, there are no “best friends” as depicted in movies, books, and stories handed down for generations. People do not really have friends they can rely on, not even close family members. The evidence that this is true is all around us, confronts us everyday, but we refuse to acknowledge it as truth because then we would be alone. Another example of a universal delusion is our belief that people will work together for a common good. The reality is that people work towards their own desires and best interests. They may band together in temporary groups out of guilt, safety, or psychological soothing but behind the scenes are only the basest of human traits: envy, resentment, selfishness, and grasping for control.

One wonders if it would simply be better to be absorbed in our delusions – after all, they have comforted human beings for thousands of generations. But assuming truth and logic actually offer some benefit to our evolutionary progress, what strategy can we use to unmask our delusions? First, you have to recognize you are in a box then you have to want to get out of it - knowing is halfway to success. Once a delusion has been exposed and you have identified the base trait behind it, you can choose to fight those natural inclinations, to exert your intellect and overcome your instinctual tendencies – or not.

[Haumana]

Or not indeed.

Enjoyed that one, Martin. Thanks

[DrYouth]

Self delusion is certainly ubiquitous and in many ways adaptive. Yes we fool ourselves to believe that people are reliable when they aren't... It is a way of avoiding hopelessness when facing adversity in childhood.

That being said:

People do not really have friends they can rely on, not even close family members.... Another example of a universal delusion is our belief that people will work together for a common good.

This is certainly not a universal truth.
These things are possible, even if they may be increasingly rare in our modern world...
Better not to deny that they are possible, but to work towards building the trust that makes them possible.

Lots of good work is being done to see what can build social capital.

This is a great TED on the topic.

[TheReal_ND]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Heffernan

[adwinistrator]

If we didn't have delusion, half of us would be in a non-stop existential crisis, rocking back and forth in the fetal position while sucking our thumbs.

[DrYouth]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Heffernan

yep...

that's her wikipedia page

[Fife]

One wonders if it would simply be better to be absorbed in our delusions – after all, they have comforted human beings for thousands of generations.

"Thousands of generations"?

Probably more like 13 or 14 generations, for the kind of delusions you describe. IMNSHO.

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

If we didn't have delusion, half of us would be in a non-stop existential crisis, rocking back and forth in the fetal position while sucking our thumbs.

Half?