I totally agree with your statement. Cannot refute that at all. It is so true.

I also think we both are saying the same thing, but with different lenses on. It would be interesting to see what a PMI on the two statements would yield:

1. The more intelligent a person is, the more easy it is for him/her to defend that view than, say, a less intelligent person., AND

2. the more intelligent a person is, the HARDER it is for him/her to think outside of patterns.

Cheers

But I really disliked the following statement:

…”the more intelligent a person is, the more easy it is for him/her to defend that view than, say, a less intelligent person.”

Nope. I mean Yes. It all depends on how you define whos intelligent. But if we agree with what the majority of our society labels as “intelligent” I would go so far to say…

…the more intelligent a person is, the HARDER it is for him/her to think outside of patterns.

Think about it.

P.S. I would love to explain my point in more detail but I have to go. The good news is that you´ll have to think more this way

I´m out. Much power to you!

True. If our mind did not have the ability to form generalizations (I would call it “patterns”), we would be lost. I am in total agreement.

But once the mind has the pattern, any information that is remotely similar will be treated as if it was the pattern. And therein lies the problem. We stop thinking.

When we encounter something new, we try to match it to existing patterns in our mind. We are constantly searching for clues in the “something new” so that we fit it to our pattern. Once we see a trigger, we immediately group it to the pattern. In short, we judge immediately and form an opinion. The more intelligent a person is, the more easy it is for him/her to defend that view than, say, a less intelligent person.

I am not sure if I would be inclined to call such a defense of one’s judgment thinking.

Without generalization you would have to stop, “think” and try out how every new door in the world opens. You wouldn´t assume that they all open in the same way.
Our brain knows that - that´s the reason why we are generalization masters. It is designed to make our life easier.

But it causes alot of trouble too - I agree. To be aware of the beast is important - but still…it´s thinking. Don´t you think?

Much power to you!
Steli