Confrontation with contrary evidence can intensify rather than weaken firm belief.

Evidence

Suppose an individual believes something with his whole heart … suppose that he is then presented with unequivocal and undeniable evidence that his belief is wrong: what will happen? The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before. Indeed, he may even show a new fervor about convincing and converting people. — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 97

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Festinger’s cognitive dissonance; this directly supports the book’s central thesis about how the economics profession absorbed 2008 without revising its core doctrine. — connects to: Disconfirming evidence rarely topples deeply held doctrines and worldviews. — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 94; Belief systems respond to contrary evidence by discounting the evidence; Believing contradictions works because the mind can simply exclude the conflicting object from attention — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 618 (+11 more)

Broader Connections

• Belief systems respond to contrary evidence by discounting the evidence #corroborates (0.90)
• Prejudice persists because people dismiss evidence contradicting existing attitudes #corroborates (0.85)
• Stereotypes survive contradictory evidence when they emerge from rationalization rather than hasty judgment. #exemplifies (0.80)
• Believing contradictions works because the mind can simply exclude the conflicting object from attention #expands (0.75) — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 618