The "moral dumbfounding" phenomenon reveals we often have an instant, gut-level decision and *then* invent reasons to justify it. We believe we're reasoning our way to a conclusion, but we're often just rationalizing an intuition we already hold.
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Intelligence is often used as a tool to generate more sophisticated arguments for what one already believes. A higher IQ correlates with the ability to find reasons supporting your stance, not with an enhanced ability to genuinely consider opposing viewpoints.
We confuse our capacity for innovation with wisdom, but we are not wise by default. The same mind that conceives of evolution can rationalize slavery, the Holocaust, and cruelty to animals. Our psychology is masterful at justification, making our default state far from conscious or wise.
Prioritize your intuition over pure logic in decision-making, treating your gut as your "primary brain." Following it and failing is better than ignoring it for someone else's logic and failing, as the latter creates profound self-doubt and regret.
Most arguments aren't a search for objective truth but an attempt to justify a pre-existing emotional state. People feel a certain way first, then construct a logical narrative to support it. To persuade, address the underlying feeling, not just the stated facts.
Instead of relying on instinctual "System 1" rules, advanced AI should use deliberative "System 2" reasoning. By analyzing consequences and applying ethical frameworks—a process called "chain of thought monitoring"—AIs could potentially become more consistently ethical than humans who are prone to gut reactions.
Ethical judgment is not born from policies but begins as pre-verbal, physical sensations like a tightness or shift in the body. This 'gut feeling' is the raw data of ethical awareness. Ignoring these bodily cues means missing the foundational step of ethical formation, which occurs faster than rational thought.
The process of following your intuition is more important than the outcome. It eliminates the anxiety from going against your gut, making even 'wrong' decisions feel right and leading to less regret.
Intuition is often overridden in professional settings because it's intangible. A bad decision backed by a rational explanation is often more acceptable than a good one based on a "gut feeling," which can feel professionally risky.
People's conscious, stated reasons for their actions (proximate explanations) often obscure deeper, unconscious evolutionary drivers (ultimate explanations), such as the drive to reduce mating competition while appearing compassionate.
Humans hold conflicting beliefs simultaneously (e.g. "look before you leap" vs "he who hesitates is lost"). The one that dictates your action is chosen not by logic, but by your prevailing emotional state. This is why mastering your state is the primary step to change.
