# Cows Rule the World By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-01-19 There is a notion that within a civil society, one needs to respect the views of others. This notion, while potentially well-meaning, misses the mark. Let's say that a person believes that despite humans' apparent primacy in global affairs, cows rule the world. Under this theory, cows can telepathically influence humans' thoughts, and humans are simply doing the bidding of cows. Cows want large pastures and to be milked, and they get humans to do these things for them. Cows want pleasant pastures without the chaos of many humans, so they convince humans to compile themselves in large cities, working hard but leaving large swaths of rolling land available for the cows to graze alone. Clearly, cows rule the world. Now, the question becomes, should one respect this view, or should one respect that a given person has the freedom to hold this view? This is not a trivial distinction. If one respects all of the views of others, why would one critique the view? If one respects that people have the freedom to hold whatever view they want but that one doesn't necessarily respect the view that is held, one can focus attention on the shortcomings of the view. Despite all the work humans do, seemingly for the benefit of cows, one flaw with the theory is that humans kill and eat significantly more cows than cows kill and eat humans. It would be strange for cows to influence humans to do this telepathically. Sure, a person can hold any view, but some views are silly, stupid, destructive, or impede human progress. Should such views be respected? Probably not. Respecting that a person has a right to hold personal views that are contrary to the mainstream is not the same thing as respecting the view a person holds. Societies benefit from an open exchange of ideas. Societies advance when new views divergent from those held by the majority are shown to be better. Respecting that people are free to have divergent views is essential to this function. But not respecting every view equally is how we make progress. One could believe that the earth is flat, the center of the universe, and that planets move in circular orbits. I don't have to respect that view. Holding the view that the earth is round, that the sun is the center of this solar system, and that planets move in elliptical orbits is more beneficial to science and space exploration. A person should be able to voice what one thinks publicly and without fear. We must discern which views are more accurate, powerful, general, and useful. One is unable to do this by respecting all views. Or this is exactly what the cows want us to think. #### Related Items [[Beliefs]] [[Respect]] [[Society]] [[World Views]] [[Progress]]