The Baby Switch Thought Experiment And How It Can Change The World

This is my first "official" post here at Steemit. I don't know if this is the first of many or the only one I'll ever write (I have to admit- I'm kinda curious myself). But either way- I thought that since I'm taking the time and making the effort to write this post, I should make it count and discuss something important.

The 'something important' I want to discuss is one of the biggest problems of humanity and it's one that people tend to overlook. Ready for it? Here it is:

People never consider the fact that had they been born under different circumstances (to a different family / in a different country / to a different nationality/ in a different era)- everything they believe in, everything they think and everything they do during their life would be significantly different.

Why is that so important, you ask? The answer is simple- because everybody always think that their way of thinking is right and they're willing to argue and fight (often to the death) to defend these beliefs. Whether it's the god they believe in, the political party they support or any other aspect of their life or the society they live in. 

Let's have a little thought experiment, shall we?

Think about the moment you were born and think about another baby that was born at that exact same second. You could have been that baby and live his life. That baby could have been you and live your life. Somehow you both landed in your current bodies, but it could have been the other way around. Now think about your life, what you did in it, what you're doing in it, what you believe in and why you believe in it. 

For example, let's say you were born in France so naturally you love France. You even joined the army to defend it and are willing to die for it. You also believe in God (the Christian version) because you were taught about God from an early age, your family took you to church every week etc. Now time travel inside your mind back to your birth, switch yourself with a baby from India that was born at the exact same moment and imagine that you're being born as him. In your alternate life you don't believe in God. From an early age you were taught about different gods. France is a faraway place that you don't care about. Everything that the original you loves, believes in and is willing to die for in your actual life- means nothing if you're born into a different body, a different family, a different society, a different place on the map (some or all of the above). 

Think about it. Really think. We all start as blank slates. Your opinions are shaped by who you're born to, where you're born and the people and information that surround you and influence you since birth. You are who you are and you care about the things you care about simply because you live in a certain context. So how can someone say, for example, 'My God is the one true God'? They may truly believe it. But had they been born to an atheist family and taught from day one that there's no God, would they still think the same? You can decide that you were born to the 'right' nation or follow the 'right' god, but the reality is that you randomly landed inside a body in a certain place and that determined who you are and what you care about. Another baby was born elsewhere and that determined who they are and what they care about. You can stick your head in the sand and pretend that isn't the truth. But playing ostrich won't change the facts. 

Feeling that you're 'right' and trying to make other people think like you is something that's embedded into your mind without you being aware of it. Being 'right' just feels so damn... right. It makes you feel like you're on the right track. That life has meaning and that things should happen be a certain way because that's the right way. We all love feeling that way. It's only natural.

But whoever you are- rich or poor, religious or secular, left wing or right wing, male or female, straight or gay- you have to accept the fact that you could have been somebody else and if you were- everything you now know and so strongly believe in would become irrelevant to the alternate you. Once you accept that and can imagine yourself in other people's shoes even for a few seconds- living their life, learning what they learned, seeing what they've seen, experiencing different experiences than the ones that shaped you into who you are- perhaps you could then set aside the constant desire to be right and the urge to try and prove that other people who think differently are wrong. 

That's not to say that you should change your beliefs or that they're worth any less. Do whatever you want and believe in whatever you want so your life will feel meaningful and worth living. But always respect other people's desires, opinions and choices and don't try to impose your opinions because you feel the urge to recruit everybody so your 'right' opinion will prevail. Live and let live, people. It's as  simple as that. It just requires taking a step back from your opinions and beliefs and realizing that your life could be better if you stop obsessing about being right and stop deciding for other people how they're supposed to live.

It's kind of weird that I'm writing all of this. I'm definitely not a let's-all-join-hands-together-and- make-this-a-better-world-with-lots-of-rainobws-and-unicorns sort of person. But I do think that people need to think more about themselves and about others and not operate on automatic pilot. Because the world is going to shit and it's because people don't use their brain enough.

If all of this or at least some makes sense to you, I'll appreciate it if you could spread the word about this little mental exercise. It might help some people pause and think about who they are and why. And I'd love to read your thoughts about all of this even if you don't agree.

Thanks for lending me your brain for a few minutes. I hope I returned it to you undamaged.