A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices. — William James

A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.

Author: William James

Insight: Most of us mistake scrolling through opinions that match ours for actual thinking. We feel productive mentally while just shuffling around beliefs we already had—which is why arguments online rarely change anyone's mind. Real thinking means actively questioning what you're certain about.

Source: The Principles of Psychology, 1890

/Quotes

A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.

William JamesThe Principles of Psychology, 1890

Insight

Most of us mistake scrolling through opinions that match ours for actual thinking. We feel productive mentally while just shuffling around beliefs we already had—which is why arguments online rarely change anyone's mind. Real thinking means actively questioning what you're certain about.

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William James

William James was an American philosopher and psychologist, often regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as the "Father of American psychology," he was a pioneer in the development of pragmatism and his work explored the realms of consciousness, free will, and the nature of belief.

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