Sure, but only up to a point -- the point where "cognitive dissonance" becomes intolerable and we have to rethink what we thought was true.
Of course some are more easily moved by cognitive dissonance than others with the results that debates are possible and outcome unpredictable.
You make a good point about cognitive dissonance—you advance our discussion in the right direction.
I would say the problem with cognitive dissonance is it’s more of a comfort stabilizer than a truth detector.