Yeah, I marvel at the seeming dichotomy in the human mind.
We're capable of such amazing reasoning and creativity, and moral courage. But the very same minds can sustain sets of beliefs that are clearly (to others) internally contradictory or irrational, or that rationalize behavior that's clearly violates one's own ideals.
I have a theory that we use most of our intelligence to rationalize behaviors that did not come about by reason. Over half of nazis were christians, for instance.
We're capable of such amazing reasoning and creativity, and moral courage. But the very same minds can sustain sets of beliefs that are clearly (to others) internally contradictory or irrational, or that rationalize behavior that's clearly violates one's own ideals.