Imagine you're playing badminton, and you have a special way to swing your racket. The way you send a drop, the way you smash and the way you pick up a smash. Now, what if someone else comes along and tells you that the way you pick your racket sucks? It might bother you, right? That’s because you believe your way is the right way.
Now, I am sure you do this too, but not always with rackets. You do it with ideas. This is what the subtitle "The Human Tendency to Dogmatise Everything" means. It means that people have a habit of taking an idea and saying, "This is the ONLY right way to think about this!" and then sticking to it, even if there's a chance they could be wrong.
Why Do Humans Dogmatise?
Our brains like order. Just like how you like to swing your racket in a certain way, our minds like ideas to be sorted in certain ways. When we believe something is true, it feels good. It’s like having a cozy blanket. And once we have that cozy blanket, we don’t want to give it up.
There's another reason too. Long ago, when people lived in jungles and caves, it was important to be sure about things. If you weren’t sure about which berries were safe to eat or where the dangers were, you could get in big trouble! So, our brains got used to being certain about stuff.
How Does Dogma Affect Us Today?
Today, we're not in jungles or caves anymore. But our brains still like to be certain. Sometimes, this can lead to problems. For example, if someone grows up thinking that one type of music is the best and all others are bad, they might miss out on a lot of good songs. Or, if someone thinks that their way of doing things is the only right way, they might not learn new and better ways.
Dogma can also make people fight. Think about when you argue with a friend about which game to play. Now, imagine if that argument was about bigger things, like who is allowed to live where, or how people should be treated. When people believe their idea is the only right one, it can lead to big fights.
Learning to Be Open
The good news is, while our brains like to be certain, they also like to learn! Just like how you might discover a new way to swing the racket, people can learn new ways of thinking.
It’s like trying a new flavour of ice cream. At first, you might think, "I only like chocolate!" But then, if you try strawberry or mint, you might find out you like those too.
So, when we hear someone say something different from what we believe, instead of thinking "That's wrong!", we can think, "Hmm, that's interesting. I wonder why they think that?" By doing this, we can learn more and live in a happier, more peaceful world.
Conclusion
In the end, dogma is like sticking to just one toy or one flavour of ice cream. While it might feel safe and comfortable, we miss out on a lot. By being open to new ideas and understanding why we like to be certain, we can grow, learn, and make the world a better place. So, the next time you find yourself thinking, "This is the ONLY way!", remember the toy box, and think about all the other fun ways there might be!
Favourite piece so far!