Correct IS "widely seen as right by a large group". People in the 1950s were not evil or stupid, they were much as people are now: well-meaning and sincere in their beliefs. Their correct is not our correct, but in context, it's not "worse" than ours. If you'd been an adult then, you'd have beliefs in tune with the zeitgeist too.

You are assuming that your views wouldn't change over time. Ideas aren't static. You said that one would end up being reactionary over time when the new ideas disagree with your own...but that assumes that yours wouldn't change...