Rational ignorance occurs when the cost of educating oneself on an issue exceeds the potential benefit that the knowledge would provide. Ive given some thought to this line of thinking and find it I cant agree with it. While it may have made for a good dissertation I do not believe it is based in reality. While voters may not study each and every issue, they usually are aware of what issues that political candidates who represent them are for and against. They certainly understand what political parties are more likely to institute laws and policies more in line with their social views and values. Informed on every issue? You dont have to be, you only have to be informed on a particular issue dear to you. One close to home per se. For example freeway fixing to run through the middle of your property a person simply decides whether or not it benefits him or hurts him find the candidate most likely to represent his view. A little story about extremely educated people who have never been out of the academic community from grade school to their doctorate. True story. While studying a phenomenon it really does not matter what it was. Each day the academics would hear a whistle blown. They would all look around and speculate why it was going off and discuss different theories they had come up with. After a few days finally the only one who had worked his way through school busted out laughing after hearing one of the theories. All of them looked at him quizzically and one asked what he was laughing at. At this time he told them it was the lunch and break whistle. Then he had to explain what it was for and why the company had it. They were all astonished that the workers were subjected to such a regiment as long as the goal was accomplished on time what difference does it matter when they take a break or lunch. He then had to explain that they would not return to work in a timely manner if not prompted and that the goal had no end. I give this example only to show that if you become to insulated from society your perception is easily skewed. This not only happens in academia but in all segments of society ie politicians, corporate leadership, and the proletariat. Of course it may be I have been affected by the same thing in my view of rational ignorance but I rather doubt it. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_ignorance
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 18:04:48 +0000
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