Informal poll to ensure I'm not generalizing from one example:
How frequently do you find yourself able to remember how you feel about something, but unable to remember what produced the feeling in the first place (ie: you remember you hate steve but can't remember why)?
It seems like this is a cognitive shortcut, giving us access only to the "answer" that's already been computed (how to act vis-a-vis steve) instead of wasting energy and working memory re-accessing all the data and re-performing the calculation.
All the time.
Generally I only remember the cause of my dispositions if I feel it's important in itself. In the case of something like political beliefs I have a commitment to throwing out anything I can't justify through verbal reasoning and reference to fundamental values. With likes and dislikes - from those fundamental values to flavors of ice cream - I don't consider the path that got me there particularly important.
Sometimes I need the justification for ulterior or social reasons. It doesn't particularly matter to me why I like the people I happen to...
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