Ideologies

I believe that rational thought is what differentiates humans from other animals; it is our competitive advantage, the thing that ensures our survival as a species.  Unfortunately, despite many people believing themselves quite capable of rational thought, these same people typically latch onto some sort of ideology.  Why?  Because it removes the necessity to engage in actual, rational thought.  Rather than contemplate what the best course of action in any particular situation is, an ideology allows us to just decide the best course of action under any circumstances.  I'll have more on this later, but I wanted to get this down before I forgot.