How Human Bias and Ego Shaped and Hindered Progress Through History

The Impact of Human Ego: 16 Historical Examples of Misconceptions

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Throughout history, human bias and ego have led to significant misconceptions and errors that have shaped and often hindered progress.

Here, we explore sixteen such examples, illustrating how deeply entrenched beliefs have influenced societies and delayed advancements until challenged by new evidence and perspectives.

The Flat Earth Belief

For centuries, many cultures, including the Greeks and early medieval Europeans, believed that the Earth was flat. This misconception limited exploration and trade, as people feared that traveling too far could cause them to fall off the edge of the world. However, Greek scholars like Pythagoras (c. 570–495 BCE) and later explorers, such as Ferdinand Magellan in the 16th century, provided evidence of a spherical Earth, which eventually ushered in an era of global exploration and the Age of Discovery.

Natural Disasters as God’s Curse

Throughout ancient and medieval times, up to the Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries, natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions were often interpreted as divine punishment or curses from gods. This belief hindered scientific understanding and the development of strategies to mitigate the impact of these disasters. Scientific advancements in geology and meteorology, such as the work of James Hutton in the 18th century and the development of seismology in the 19th century, eventually helped people understand natural disasters as natural phenomena rather than supernatural events.

Diseases as God’s Curse or Past Life’s Sins

Throughout ancient and medieval times, up to the late 19th century, diseases were often seen as punishments from gods or the result of one’s sins or misdeeds in a past life. This belief delayed the development of medical science and effective public health measures. The germ theory of disease, developed in the 19th century by scientists like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, revolutionized our understanding of diseases, leading to significant…