Cognitive Dissonance: Defending the Indefensible

Re:  Commuters Blast Vegan Posters For ‘Forcing Opinions On Others’

The absurdity of this indignant and defensive reaction speaks volumes … But unlike smoking and alcoholism, which draw similar reactions when we advise quitting, this is not even a defense of the “freedom of choice” to hurt oneself. It is a defense of the freedom to harm others. This defense of the indefensible against a defense of the defenseless arises from cognitive dissonance: a moral antinomy trying to camouflage itself from itself.

L’absurditĂ© de cette rĂ©action indignĂ©e et dĂ©fensive en dit long … Mais contrairement au tabagisme et Ă  l’alcoolisme, qui suscitent des rĂ©actions semblables lorsqu’on conseille l’abstention, ces rĂ©actions ne reposent mĂȘme pas sur la dĂ©fense de la «libertĂ© du choix» Ă  faire du mal Ă  soi-mĂȘme. Il s’agit d’une dĂ©fense de la libertĂ© Ă  faire du mal aux autres. Cette dĂ©fense de l’indĂ©fendable contre la dĂ©fense des sans-dĂ©fense est gĂ©nĂ©rĂ©e par la dissonance cognitive  :  une antinomie morale qui cherche Ă  se camoufler de soi-mĂȘme.

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