We often believe that we are exceptionally knowledgeable and that the ideas of our time are unquestionably correct. However, the progress of 21st-century science has led us to think that our predictions are infallible, and what’s happening is predetermined. We tend to cling to our “current” belief systems, assuming they’re the only right way to live. While it’s true that humans need beliefs to make sense of life, we often overlook whether these beliefs are truly our own or just societal norms. How can we be certain that our current beliefs won’t appear foolish to future generations? What if they question our choices, like inventing vehicles that harm the environment, or consider AI the biggest mistake of humanity? We can’t know for sure unless we can see the future, but history has shown that even the smartest ideas and beliefs can be proven wrong by future generations.

Looking back at previous centuries, we can see how popular beliefs turned out to be misconceptions:

15th Century:
Misconception: The belief in a flat Earth, which was debunked by later explorations and scientific observations demonstrating Earth’s spherical nature.

The limited geographical knowledge of the time and the visible horizon gave the impression that the Earth was flat. Additionally, influential ancient writings, like Aristotle’s, supported the idea of a flat Earth.

16th Century:
Misconception: The geocentric model, asserting that Earth was the center of the universe, challenged by Nicolaus Copernicus’s heliocentric model.

The geocentric model was based on centuries of observation and the influential work of thinkers like Ptolemy. It seemed to explain the apparent motion of celestial bodies from an Earth-centered perspective.

17th Century:
Misconception: Witch hunts and trials, where innocent people, mainly women, were accused of witchcraft and subjected to torture and execution.

Widespread superstitions and fear of the unknown, along with religious beliefs, fueled suspicions of witchcraft. Crop failures, epidemics, and unusual behavior were often attributed to witchcraft.

18th Century:
Misconception: The concept of “racial superiority,” used to justify colonialism and slavery based on false claims of certain races being superior.

European colonial powers sought to justify their expansion and enslavement of indigenous peoples by promoting the idea of racial superiority, which they used to exploit other cultures and races.

19th Century:
Misconception: Phrenology, the idea that one’s personality and mental traits could be determined by examining skull bumps.

Phrenology was born out of a desire to understand human behavior and personality traits. The belief in the correlation between skull shape and mental faculties was promoted by early proponents who lacked scientific rigor.

20th Century:
Misconception: Pseudoscientific beliefs in “racial hygiene” and eugenics, advocating selective breeding and sterilization to improve human genetics, leading to unethical practices in some countries.

The eugenics movement gained popularity as a misguided attempt to improve society by controlling human reproduction. It was influenced by concerns about social and genetic hygiene and led to policies that violated human rights. The Nazis’ extreme version of eugenics during World War II is a tragic example of where these beliefs could lead.

In hindsight, we might assume that those people did not know enough, but that’s not true. Generations before us often possessed a deeper understanding of the natural world than we do today. This is the magic of human history—everything seems obvious in retrospect.

As for the 21st century, it’s uncertain if there will be beliefs held for a century and then proven wrong, but history suggests that there will likely be such misconceptions. We have a choice: question everything or accept what we’re told. The choice is yours!