Role of Prejudice on Perception

If we assume that stored memory has physical existence then we can also attribute it living status. Thus we can define experience as a living entity which grows with input of perceptions during consciousness and even during dream. Yes, we can recall dream events and they form part of our experience.

I had compared perception with snapshot in video. It is not correct. There is no  way for blind to comprehend what is visual impression. Still he has experience which builds with other senses. However, if blindness has come by  accident or disease, the person can construct visual images in mind based on earlier visual experience.

Prejudice is preformed opinion about any event, object or behavior of external world. This is the main modifier while converting perception into experience. We can even imagine that perception is a food for living experience entity which slowly transforms its body. The prejudice helps to guide body and mind response. In it also behavior patterns are developed which are used frequently to reduce energy requirement.

I had read  a book `Games people play’ in which it was shown that how persons find comfort in responding preformed behaviours like gestures, verbal expressions or physical movement.

As prejudice is built on accumulated memory, it is difficult to prepare him for accepting contradictory evidence.  Hence the importance of building character intentionally right from childhood.

Divotees  gather and strengthen memories of their religious idols in the form of images, stories and develop a strong belief. Their dreams help them in strengthening belief.  Even the normal chance events get  interpreted as evidence of miracle. This belief in self defense refutes any contradictory logic, statements or event news. This is the reason why divotees remain unconvinced even if confronted with glaring contradictory evidence.

Human mind is the combined effect of emotion and intelligence. Emotion is the result of prejudice and intelligence is result of reasoning power. Religion boosts emotion whereas science promotes reasoning. Eastern philosophy tried to develop reasoning in believing in divine power. Western philosophy tried to find scientific laws in nature and applied to human behavior.

If you are new to  philosophy subject, please read `Story of philosophy’ by Will Durant.   If you are religious minded, I would suggest that you read two books by Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishan vig. ` The present crises of faith’ and `Recovery of faith’ which will give you enough material to fight materialists. On the other hand, if you are skeptical, read  ` The nature of physical world’ by Arthur Eddincton, ` Enquiry into human understanding’ by David Hume and ` being and Nothingness’ by Sartre.

I myself,  during my prime, was staunch opponent of belief in religion and was taking interest in arguments. However, with maturity, I found that there is no point in convincing inconceivable and it is more logical to accept and  respect others point of view because after all it is their life and they are happy with their beliefs.