> including many so lacking in introspection that they accept as axioms, false and destructive ideas which should be honestly challenged
Despite the existence of people like this, it's generally not a good stance to consider those who disagree with you as lacking introspection. It's just a crutch to further validate your beliefs without any effort.
How much more developed would your thoughts be if you pretend that every opinion you encounter was thought through, and included as much life experiences and research as your own opinions do?
It is also naive to assume that everyone has good reasons to believe what they believe, when we live in the world where astrology is popular, and people believe things because they "feel deep inside that it's true!".
I agree with you, here's an expanded version of the buckets I think exist:
1. I'm genuine but I haven't thought this through
2. I'm genuine and I have thought this through (regardless if I'm right or wrong)
3. I'm adversarial and weaponise my opinion in order to advance some other agenda or push the overton window
My proposition is that if you assume everyone is in bucket 1, you never rethink your opinions and just think "poorly" of others which doesn't allow you to advance your thinking as fast as if you classify them as bucket 2. For people in bucket 3, you just have to trust that you'll spot a bad actor from their actions and inconsistent rhetoric over time so that you're not fooled over the long run. But similarly to people that choose to never find love for fear of having their heart broken, I wouldn't want to assume everyone is in bucket 3 because that's a shitty life to live.
Despite the existence of people like this, it's generally not a good stance to consider those who disagree with you as lacking introspection. It's just a crutch to further validate your beliefs without any effort.
How much more developed would your thoughts be if you pretend that every opinion you encounter was thought through, and included as much life experiences and research as your own opinions do?