Trust Tradition

Feb 26

Pick your Professor

All Courses Justin Christy Trust Tradition

In this class, we will consider whether some important philosophical truths are best learned through observing tradition, trusting authorities, and cultivating a more deferential kind of intellectual humility.

Read This:

Henrich’s The Secret of our Success: Trust Tradition

Key Concepts:

  • Causal opacity
  • Cultural evolution
  • Overimitation

Watch This:

Pre-Class Questions

  1. In your own words, explain Henrich’s concept of “causal opacity” and give an example from your own life.
  2. Henrich focuses on traditional practices, rather than beliefs. Based on what you’ve read for today, what do you think he would say about how we should form beliefs? Explain.
  3. In your own approach to belief-formation, would you say you tend to be more skeptical or more trusting? What do you see as the main pros and cons of your approach?
  4. Is there anything in today’s reading that you’re confused about? What questions do you have? What other, related topics would you like to discuss in class? Follow the links to respond on PollEverywhere, and/or upvote any classmates responses’ that you’d also like to see covered in class.

Content Reflection

Describe at least one example (real or hypothetical) of a traditional belief or practice that you think should be questioned or rejected, and at least one example (real or hypothetical) of a traditional belief or practice that you think should not be questioned or rejected. In each case, explain your reasoning in as much detail as you can. Based on these examples, under what circumstances, in general, should we accept a traditional belief or practice without questioning?