Because our brains are organs of survival, just like teeth or claws, shaped by the same evolutionary pressures as teeth and claws.
We think brains are organs of rational thought. They're not. They're belief engines. They are pattern finders, fine tuned by natural selection to be exquisite at finding patterns even if they're not there.
Finding patterns is how we survive. An early hominid hunter who noticed the pattern that staying downwind of prey works better than staying upwind of prey had a better chance of survival.
Superstitions are merely patterns that aren't real. The survival consequence of believing a pattern that is not real is lower than the survival consequence of not recognizing a pattern that is real, so our brains are optimized for seeing patterns that aren't there over not seeing patterns that are. We see patterns everywhere.
The Belief Engine: Why We Believe What We Believe
Read other answers by Franklin Veaux on Quora:
- Given the diversity of humans, is there any chance that somewhere someone thinks and believes exactly the same things and ways as you?
- Is it natural for humans to remain single, or are we naturally suited to be in couples?
- Why do some atheists talk so much about these gods they don't believe in?
from Quora http://ift.tt/29EQool
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