tradition vs. gut feeling

Posted by Robert Sharp Nov 16, 2006

The philosopher David Hume once warned that what most people call common sense or gut moral intuitions were really just traditions, driven into us from such a young age that we couldn't help but see them as established truths. There's truth in this, to a point. Most people don't examine their moral beliefs, accepting them as readily as they accept bad science and for similar reasons. Our parents act as moral authorities when we are young. We don't even question them for most of our lives (yes, we might ask why when we are 2 or 3, but ultimately, we tend to believe what is said). By the time we are thinking for ourselves, patterns have ingrained themselves in us, patterns that can be difficult to break.

I compared this to bad science, so here's an example to clarify what I mean. A lot of people accept the traditional wisdom that when lightning strikes, you can start counting. For every second you count before the thunder sounds, the lightning is said to be a mile away. It sounds clean, and we like clean. It sounds scientific too, but in a pseudo-scientific way. However, it's false. Sound travels at around 1100ft per second. A mile has 5280 feet in it. So it would take around 5 seconds for sound to travel a mile. But we believe the simple rule we are taught at a young age.

But is this all conscience is? A habit formed by upbringing? I honestly don't know. I do know that people can change their moral views, both through education and self-examination. We are not simply the products of our upbringing. If we were, morality itself could never change, but it does. Today's youth accepts civil rights and women's rights. Granted, some accept it because they grow up being told about these rights from various outlets. But someone had to create these rights in the first place, someone who broke the traditions, who struck new moral ground.

I'm guessing they ignored their gut feelings and started examining the world for themselves.