When something happens that creates a cognitive dissonance, when two of our beliefs are shown to be incompatible, we’re still left with the choice of which one to reject. In academic philosophy circles this has a famous joke:

A guy comes in to the doctor’s, says, “Doc, I’m a corpse. I’m dead.”

The doctor says, “Well, are corpses … ticklish?”

“Course not, doc!”

Then the doctor tickles the guy, who giggles and squirms away. “See?” says the doctor. “There you go.”

“Oh my God, you’re right, doc!” the man exclaims. “Corpses are ticklish!”

There’s always more than one way to revise our beliefs.

Brian Christian, The Most Human Human: What Artificial Intelligence Teaches Us About Being Alive (2011)