Intelligence is the greatest evolutionary development with many benefits, but is there a downside to intelligence? Does unsurpassed intelligence foster delusion?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I think it was Ernest Becker who said that when humans developed self-awareness, it was a burden they almost couldn't bear ... and still can't. It has advantages of being able to anticipate and plan ... but it has disadvantage of understanding that the story arc of your life ends in annihilation, and that you don't have tons of control over every aspect of it.
mordant
Level 8
Feb 4, 2020
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Which ends in delusionary belief systems like religion.
It is only delusion when you cannot tell it from reality, otherwise it is imagination.
LenHazell53
Level 9
Feb 2, 2020
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What's the difference b/t an illusion & a delusion?
@Atheist3
It is illusory when you enjoy a superman movie, is is delusory when you shout for him to save you and jump off a bridge in the sure and certain conviction he will.
@LenHazell53 Illusion is when one mistakes reality. Delusion is when one believes it.
Some forms of mental illness like in movies
bobwjr
Level 10
Feb 2, 2020
1
Yeah, but that's called entertainment.
A downside to intelligence?
To humanity as a whole, YES. Intelligent people produce fewer children.
In the dating world, YES. The dating pool is so much smaller.
To living a fulfilled life, NO. My thoughts alone suffice in providing me with quality living.
ElusiveMoby
Level 7
Feb 2, 2020
2
That's it? Fewer children & a smaller dating pool?
@Atheist3 I suppose my answer says too much about my dating life. Forgive me
@ElusiveMoby 
There is no sin therefore no need for forgiveness. I'm more intrigued about your comment, "My thoughts alone suffice in providing me with quality living". Share more of your thoughts.
Apparently not. Low IQ is more related to delusional thinking. There was a study undertaken several years ago. I’ll see if I can remember it and post the link.
Geoffrey51
Level 8
Feb 2, 2020
1
Sounds interesting. Hope that you can dig it out of the archives.
Humanity as a whole is highly susceptible to false cause and effect explanations and fairy tale thinking.
@Atheist3 This is the study
The Negative Relationship between Reasoning and Religiosity Is Underpinned by a Bias for Intuitive Responses Specifically When Intuition and Logic Are in Conflict
The weighting is very much toward USA with hardly any representation from Africa, Aus/NZ and Middle East. See the supplementary table 3
[frontiersin.org]
It was published in 2017
@Geoffrey51 Thx a bunch for the reference. Intuition & logic: What a cozy couple.
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