[In response to another poster]
"I don't think that's how spirits/demons work. Just possessing those emotions doesn't do anything. It's the perception of demons as evil that warps their natures. So if humanity at large believes that there is something called a "Pride Demon", then that transforms a spirit of wisdom to fit that perception. Solas went into the Fade with no preconceptions, and therefore saw what was truly there. Or at least, that's what he says.
It's like religion. There is great power in collective belief. If enough people believe something to be true, then that belief can take on a reality of its own.
(I'm an anthropology major so I am loving this so much. It's so in line with what I'm studying right now.)"
[Another response]
"But there's that collective belief again. Is the fact that demons wish to see the world through the eyes of mortals an intrinsic trait or one we simply believe is characteristic of a demon? I mean, "demons possess people because jealousy etc etc" is part of chantry lore. Everyone knows that this is true. It's crazy to even question it.
But spirits are personifications of ideas. If you believe it to be true, then it will be true. What if nobody believed that demons possessed people? What if people didn't even believe in demons? Anders certainly believed in demons and possession and that abominations were evil. But isn't wynne a sort of abomination? Her body was inhabited by a spirit for years with no bad effects. Spirit healers call upon spirits for aid. Is that possession?
It's completely crazy when you first think about it, but Solas is basically challenging the ontological underpinnings of the dragon age universe."