Sober Philosophy: Motivated Reasoning (Robert presents)

Motivated reasoning, or motivated reasoning bias, according to Wikipedia, "is a cognitive and social response in which individuals, consciously or unconsciously, allow emotion-loaded motivational biases to affect how new information is perceived. Individuals tend to favor evidence that coincides with their current beliefs and reject new information that contradicts them, despite contrary evidence." Related concepts include Confirmation Bias, "the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values," and Belief Perseverance: "maintaining a belief despite new information that firmly contradicts it."
As subjective and cognitively limited agents, it would seem that all humans are guilty of motivated reasoning, at least some time, at least to some degree. We believe what we believe, not just because of evidence or through the application of pure reason, but through instinct, social habituation, or the manipulation of or by our emotions. Our beliefs are inextricably entangled with our hopes, desires, and fears. We are drawn to ideas that flatter our egos or cast our enemies in a negative light, and shun those which do the opposite. We're great at detecting the motivated reasoning of those we disagree with, but terrible in seeing it in ourselves.

Have you ever caught yourself engaging in motivated reasoning? Did it cause you to question or change your belief? Which of your most cherished or deeply-held convictions might really be the result of motivated reasoning? What, if anything, can be done about motivated reasoning? Is there anything positive about motivated reasoning? What are the implications of motivated reasoning for the philosophical quest for Truth?

Symptom-free people with negligible blood-alcohol levels and the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to participate. At the end of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to nominate and vote on the topic and format for the following meeting.

If you have any questions about the event please put them in the comments below.