Asch Conformity Experiment

Apply this principle to all knowledge acquired / disseminated throughout history. Fear overrides (& distorts) logic.
This might also be called "peer pressure" to conform our ideas to the mass opinion or perceived mass opinion of the relevant time period.
This experiment only applies to simple lines - imagine if the idea/concept is more complicated -- then the percentage of conformity increases.
Also for the logic inclined -- logic cannot process what it does not understand or approximate.
"Straight logic" is ineffective at understanding patterns expressed through metaphors. Besides ---> What Causes Emotions & Feelings? (Erupting Mind)

More recent version of experiment

Also: Bystander Effect - people watch girl being abducted -- THE BYSTANDER EFFECT