Why do people feel the need to defend their viewpoint?

Question

Shouldn't beleif systems be able to stand on their own accord, does not an open-mind logically suggest that all possibilities can co-exist without us choosing a rigid opinion, for all practical matters, could be wrong?

Discussing idealogy & concepts is not the question, thats healthy! It's the need to persuede others to change their opinions and when they don't they get angry. How can anybody know that their beleif is right and should be held by everyone, and when it's not, they judge them?

Answer 1

Ego. It's the human condition since the dawn of man. Even when proven wrong, ego drives a person to continue to defend their position, even to death. It's the reason why there will never be peace on earth.

Answer 2

Huh? Well, why not... You know like it or not, we do have "Freedom of Speech" here in this country, but maybe you are not from United States and need to co-exist, for all practical matters, that could be wrong, an open-mind that could stand on their own...that is a rigid opinion. . . . .

Answer 3

Of course, you need to prove that whatever you believe is the real thing, the fact, the truth that's why you don't just defend it, you impose it on other people as well. There is no middle ground in making a stand, either you believe or not. Like the idea of America going to war, either you support it or not. The issue of Pluto being a planet, there's no co-existence of ideas, either it's a planet or not.

Answer 4

I think people just like to have their opinion heard. Responses to it, whether people agree or disagree, make a person feel that it counts. It's frustrating though when people are very rigid and think that what they believe is absolutely right and anyone with a differing viewpoint is flat-out wrong. Those are people that are very difficult to engage in an interesting conversation or debate.

Answer 5

Ah... but what if my belief system, or my point of view, or my "possibility" says that what you have just stated is wrong? Is my belief system/P.O.V./"possibility" still right? Is it able to co-exist with yours?
It sounds like you are espousing relativism, a self refuting belief system.

People defend their beliefs because they believe they are right, if they did not believe they were right (correct) then they would change their belief system to another that they believed they were right. In essence you are defending your belief system (viewpoint), that all possibilities can co-exist? Why are you doing so?

Answer 6

I agree with this--I think it's a typical post-modern viewpoint shared by many young people today. As far as trying to share this with more traditional "religious fundamentalists" --good luck. I can debate this for hours with my grandma and it's guaranteed to start an all-out war everytime--without fail.

Answer 7

For Christians, it is not enough to know that we are saved, we also must share the good news with others, whether they reject or accept is up to them. We don't get points or rewards or anything like that, but it is our responsibility to share the good news so others can have the opporunity to find new life.

Answer 8

how can mutually exclusive beliefs be said to co-exist?

when it comes ot practical concerns we definitely have to make a choice to actualize the values of a particular system.

Answer 9

That's the "new" faith here on earth everything is acceptable and can be accepted.The new faith is like seaweed in water being tossed by waves.Your viewpoint on life is ever changing?

Answer 10

Yes, it should.

But it's this way because, everyone think's that their veiwpoint is right... the best thing is just to be open-minded... and accept it even if you don't agree... no matter how much you might want to stangle them...