[gobots]

I missed the article but it sounds interesting, please link it if you have it.

You are correct only to a point when it comes to self-knowledge. I am horrified that I was never allowed to learn about evolution and science in general, though I've done my best to catch up (started with the cosmos series from the 70s, just finished The Grand Design for the second time and am currently reading Cosmos and the Greatest Show on Earth).

I suspect the idea of the sacred and profane is a vestigial part of most human's brains.

[igravious]

Ugh. Took a while to find it.

I mis-remembered. It was the New Yorker, not NYT :/

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/mariakonnikova/2014/05...

HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7769266

Also, along similar lines

http://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/06/10/the-backfire-effect/