Magical Warfare And False Beliefs Thought
Further account of recent research into magical beliefs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with obvious application to beliefs in general. Why, despite the evidence of their own eyes, do fighters insist that amulets can protect them from from bullets? In some way, because this is a winning strategy at the group level. It makes more members of the group more willing to fight more boldly, and so win. “The ‘right’ amount of ‘wrong’ beliefs can achieve the socially efficient outcome” (1,700 words)
