Cognitive Closure

Life is complex in so many ways.

In order to deal with that complexity, sometimes we accept the simplest idea embraced by those around us, and move on.

This is common around religious and political ideas.

This allows us to feel some mental relief that we resolved the complexity in a way that makes sense to us.

This is a concept known as cognitive closure.

We want to be able to wrap our brains around an explanation, and then run with it.

Sometimes the impulse is so strong that we accept ideas of others without due skepticism.

The problem is when we then cling to that idea so strongly that any other views or ideas are automatically rejected.

Or when complexity is rejected by claiming “both sides”-ism.

We can't thrive with ignorance.

It's important that we challenge our assumptions, and listen to opposing ideas.

We don't even need to accept all ideas as good faith and legitimate.

We need to truly understand others in order to reduce both their gaps of knowledge, and our own.

It's hard work, but it's worth it.

We end up arguing against straw men instead of the things people actually believe.