Unfounded beliefs fade over time but reason is a thin crust over passion.

Evidence

Over the long term, information, evidence, and logic matter. The story of our species has been one of constant discovery, new technology, and increasingly better information. Unfounded beliefs tend to go away over time. Better information chases out errant beliefs. Namely, few people rub butter on burns or believe Alfred Dreyfus treasonous. But in the short term and at the individual level, epistemology is only important at the margins. Like the composition of the Earth, rationality is a thin crust that sits with deceptive calm on a molten core of passions. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 262

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Studying conspiracy beliefs itself triggers defensive backlash from believers. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 154; Conspiracy beliefs stay stable while conspiracy talk shifts with power — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 749; Belief perseverance persists even when evidence establishing it is shown false — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2586 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Belief perseverance persists even when evidence establishing it is shown false #corroborates (0.85) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2586
• Prejudice persists because people dismiss evidence contradicting existing attitudes #corroborates (0.85)
• Confrontation with contrary evidence can intensify rather than weaken firm belief. #corroborates (0.80) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 97