JuliusFawcett wrote:What if there are no mistakes, just information and change in response to that information?
That Seems to be the Age of Enlightenment Argument that depends upon the unproven premise that Everyone is Governed by Reason, and will always chose the Path that leads them to the Most ('Good"... the English interpretations. "Happiness", the French Interpretation). But, the Age if Enlightenment has been going on for Hundreds of Years Now. Since then we have had Democratic Choices such as Adolf Hitler, yes, He was Elected. And there had been so many Other Poor Choices. Clearly! we can not expect People to Think Clearly Enough about their own Self Interest, Because, well, there always seems to be some Emotional Content Involved.
it comes down to the Struggle within Moral Thinking between the Purely Rational and what is Purely, well, Aesthetic.
Look at it this way. Talking to some Young Grade-Schooler about Morality, is it Easier to teach him that Morality Consists of Those Things that provide the Best Living Circumstances for the People Involved, which may involve a great deal of
Experiment and Study, OR, that what Seems Nicest is Always the 'Bestest'.
The Enlightened Age truly Meant Well. But! The Common people were not Then, and Not Now, educated up to the level where they can be expected to Think Objectively and Rationally.
Julius, just look at Modern Psychological Therapies. Particularly the Cognitive Behavior Therapies. The Thinking, going in from the Start, is that THE PEOPLE ARE GETTING IT ALL WRONG. The Big Effort in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is to identify the Failures in the Thinking... the 'Cognitive' process. People are so comfortable with FEELING everything, that they, well, need all the Help they can get when it come to Actual Thinking.
So, yes, back to your original comment, about how ANYBODY may only need the Correct Information in order to behave Correctly. Well, As Things Go, must people do not Respond to Information as Input Data to be carefully Evaluated, no, they Respond to Information in an Emotional Way (Aesthetic Appreciation... Does this 'look' pretty or ugly?). In this context most people never even bother to 'Think' about any of the Incoming 'Information'. If it Seems Nice, it is good. If it Seems Bad... or contrary to One's Own Paramount Priority, one's own Self Interest, then it is Hatefully Bad!
Julius, just take a look at Current Politics. The World is Getting Ready to Install Another Fascist! Does this REALLY reaffirm your Faith in the Common Sense and Good Nature of People?