Truth and Intelligence 01/07/2006 One of my commenters (and we all know that Gone Away has the best commenters on the net, don't we?), Fragile Industries, has posted an article entitled Inconvenient Truth and "Truthiness". In reading this, I was struck first by the usefulness of the word "truthiness", which she defines as follows: "Truthiness is the quality by which a person purports to know something emotionally or instinctively, without regard to evidence or to what the person might conclude from intellectual examination."What an excellent word, I thought; how aptly it describes the thought processes of those who disagree with us. It was only as I read on that I realized that there was a flaw in the whole matter of truthiness. Pick any subject in which a dividing line has been drawn and you will find that one side thinks the other indulges in truthiness and their opponents are equally convinced that all truthiness belongs to their foes. We are so sure that only we have the facts, that we are the ones who have come to our conclusions through logic and an insistence upon sticking to the truth.Although I avoid politics and prefer not to talk about them, it is true that my general world view could be classed as conservative. And my good friend, Fragile, would be equally prepared to admit that she tends towards the liberal side of the political spectrum (I know this because I asked her). How is it that we two, both reasonably intelligent people who try to keep open minds, have come to such differing conclusions on many of the issues confronting humanity today?The rest of Fragile's post gives an excellent example of this; it is her consideration of Al Gore's film about global warming, An Inconvenient Truth. And she makes some very good points, coming down firmly on the side of those who believe ardently in the whole issue of global warming and, in the process, making me feel quite guilty for my continuing doubts of its existence.To be fair, however, we should set out the arguments of those who do not see global warming as much of an issue at all. Tom Harris, of the National Post of Canada, has published an article entitled The gods are laughing in which he too reviews An Inconvenient Truth. He has assembled an impressive array of experts to show that many of the facts used to support Mr Gore's argument are false.So who are we to believe? Ultimately, I think that we decide which experts to place credence in according to our preconceived world view. And that view is the result of our life experience and the decisions we made in dealing with it; we are the sum of all that ever happened to us plus our natural reactions to those events (nature and nurture, please note).This would explain why my immediate feeling on hearing of Mr Gore's film is to doubt that it has anything worthwhile to say; after all, isn't he the guy who announced to the world that he invented the internet? And, no doubt, Fragile would suspect that all experts who disagree with the movie are secretly under the influence of that pawn of the fundamentalist oil barons, George W Bush.I have no doubt that the truth lies somewhere in between these opposing viewpoints. Both Mr Gore and Mr Bush are acting in good faith and believe in what they say; neither is a figurehead for some evil and destructive conspiracy to subvert the world. The difference between their standpoints is caused, not by stupidity or malicious intent, but by their differing world views. And who we choose to believe depends equally upon our own already-existing world views.Can we humans ever reach a point where emotion and preconceived notion take no part in our debates? Is it possible that we can be so aware (and therefore in control) of our natural prejudices that we approach each issue with a truly open mind? Will we ever be able to agree upon what is truth and what pure conjecture?I would like to think that it is so, that in the future we might attain a position where our discussions are concerned only with truth and not with how we may feel.But isn't that truthiness...?Technorati tags: Truthiness; An Inconvenient Truth; Al Gore; Truth.
Clive
John (Syntagma) >>>>Can we humans ever reach a point where emotion and preconceived notion take no part in our debates? <<<<
Ah, but what if they actually influenced the way the Earth worked, Clive? The concept of Gaia is interesting because Nature is seen as a huge mind regulating the Earth. And we are part of that, maybe even the most influential bit. So, if true, our aspirations would actually affect what happened to the Earth. Einstein accepted some such concept, as do the Quantum people. Why shouldn't we all accept that what we aspire to with real passion will, eventually, come to pass. Although, as someone once said, beware of getting what you ask for ... Date Added: 02/07/2006
Fragile Industries I can disagree with your conclusions, Gone, but I'll defend to the death your right to hold and speak them. (Hey, that's good, I should remember that . . .) Thank you for such a civil and thoughtful exploration of an issue I raised and, assuming I was preaching to the choir, did not examine fully. As for the day we approach our search for the truth with pure rationality, I pray that it comes, but fear that it would render politics VERY DULL if not moot. Date Added: 02/07/2006
Gone Away Ah, John, methinks the crux of your argument lies in that little phrase, "if true". There's a divide over the idea of Gaia and it may be that we live on opposite sides of that particular fence. ;)
Where we can agree, however, is in the matter of getting what we ask for - it rarely makes us any happier. Date Added: 02/07/2006
Gone Away And I'll defend your right to speak out what you think too, Fragile. But what a wonderful world it would be if politics became redundant - sounds like heaven to me. :) Date Added: 02/07/2006
Rollo Great post and a link to a great article, very similar to an article I read a few days ago. I was impressed that the scientists quoted came from all over the world, thus their opinions could not be put down to any blind support of Bush or the big American oil companies. Scientists are the new gods, we look to them for guidance, answers and the survival of mankind. We want to believe their aim is pure - the furtherance of knowledge of our universe. Unfortunately, the truth is, many have their own agendas and let's face it, they all are as human as we are. Perhaps as we decide which experts to believe, they decide which data is important according to their own world views. I do not fear that humans will ever approach the search for truth with rationality or that politics will ever cease to be. I sure hope not, anyway. I would have very little to blog about and we'd all be missing the most amusing show on earth. Date Added: 02/07/2006
Gone Away All good points, Rollo, especially the one about scientists being as human as the rest of us. And you have supplied me with a very good reason for not abolishing politics - it would rob us of our opportunity to read your excellent comments on the whole crazy business! Date Added: 02/07/2006
Mad I think it's a shame the world isn't listening to me because I'm right... Date Added: 02/07/2006
Gone Away Of course you are, Mad. I taught you everything you know. :D Date Added: 02/07/2006
Marti Diversity of opinion makes for an interesting world - how boring if we all agreed on everything! And what motivation would there be to make improvements if we all thought everything was just fine all of the time? Discussion should be civil and open-minded though. When there is no attempt to understand the opposing point of view, nothing is gained. I saw an interesting program the other day showing two groups of like-minded people (one batch conservatives, the others, liberals) who took a survey. They were first given a questionnaire to fill out by themselves, and many filled in mid-range answers (on a scale of 1 - 10, most went with 6 or 7, along the line of, “I somewhat agree”). Then the like-minded people were placed in a group (of the same-minded peers) and asked to come up with a single consensus answer. The middle-of-the-roaders migrated to the extreme end of their spectrum, so that the consensus response was a 9 or 10 (“strongly agree”). It seems that “groupthink” tends to herd people to more radical positions. It was quite interesting. Here’s the link: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2140483&page=1 I hope you have a delightful 4th of July! Date Added: 04/07/2006
w Forgive me, old friend. I came by right after you posted this article, and right after reading your fresh words, left without a word. The truth is, I knew not what to say. "Truth is relative, and all people are my kin" kept springing to mind. Insane me. I left with feelings of guilt, too. Guilt over knowing I would intentionaly avoid new blogs unread. Horrible guilt. Guilt over making such an arbitrary decision in the first place. Terrible, terrible guilt. Guilt for not leaving a comment. I almost wanted to bleed. And guilt for, well, for plainly feeling guilty for not 'being aware'. "Grow up, Way", I said. Ah well. It was short-lived. I feel much better now, especially after this rash display of trueness. Now I shall retire from this, my frigid cave, and go out to the deck where it feels so sultry. Sultry. Can you not fall in love that word? Be truthful; I implore you. Date Added: 04/07/2006
Keeef Truthiness now with added sacharine Date Added: 04/07/2006
Way Sacharine. Horrid, unhealthy stuff. Worse than sliced beets, sacharine. Date Added: 04/07/2006
Liz Strauss How much I have missed by not being here. Thank you for this wonderful read and the wonderful company. Gratitude. Date Added: 04/07/2006
Gone Away I agree with you, Marti - diversity of opinion makes for an interesting world. But when that diversity rests on an unwillingness to face inconvenient facts and resorting to name-calling rather than reasoned debate, I think it becomes boring too. Witness the breakdown of reasoned conversation between the liberal and conservative camps and how predictable each side becomes. Diversity should be the driving force behind creativity and fresh thought rather than an excuse to remain entrenched in our camps.
Thanks you for the link to that program's site - most interesting. And a wonderful 4th July to you too! :) Date Added: 04/07/2006
Gone Away
And I have pondered long and deep upon your comment, Way, unsure that I understand quite what you are saying. But, when a good friend seems to be declaring that he will not read your blog again, it's time to wonder what offense one has caused. So I sift the possibilities.
I wondered whether "all people are my kin" might mean that you felt I dealt harshly with Fragile, in which case I should mention that I wrote to her explaining that her post had given me this idea and just what I would say. She was gracious enough to agree to it and even expressed interest in hearing another point of view on global warming, since she had not heard a reasoned argument against it before.
It seems more likely that you object to my wish for logic and reason to the exclusion of emotion in our debates, however. You may have taken what I said to mean that I have no truck with feeling and would prefer that we were all cold fishes. If that is the way it comes across, I am sorry but would say that it was not meant at all in that way. We are human and our emotions are an important part of us. But, when those emotions prevent us from seeing clearly when we discuss important matters, they need to be controlled and put in their place. It is fine to feel strongly about something but, when that feeling leads us into false assumption and insult, we need to get a grip on ourselves.
This matter of the relativity of truth: you know already that I think there is such a thing as absolute truth for I have written of it before. What is relative is our reaction to truth and, since we are all different, that will vary greatly. Our perspectives may be different but the thing examined is the same. Let us not lose sight of the fact that it is truth that we are trying to establish - anything less leaves us deluded.
And all people are my kin too, Way, just as they are yours. In fact, that may just be the point of my article...
Gone Away Truthiness is sweet indeed, Keef. Yet all that tastes sweet is not necessarily good for us as well. ;) Date Added: 04/07/2006
Good to see you, Liz, and my apologies that I manage to visit you less often these days myself. I read when I can although sometimes I do not comment through time pressure. Such is the busy-ness of life.
MM - Comment removed at commenters request - Date Added: 04/07/2006
Fragile Industries The notion of "truth" is such a difficult philosophical construct that all faiths and philosophers have wrestled with it, coming to different conclusions, since the dawn of time. This minor effort -- and between our two posts, I consider this a joint effort, Gone, because I fully supported and encouraged your further reflections here, has turned into a stinging and spiteful enterprise. I comment here again two espress two things (I will not call them "truths"): 1) Let no reader of this or my blog post believe that I did not consent to and embrace Gone's comments. Without calm and reason discourse, we revert to savagery. I am flattered that someone has taken away from my writing an idea worthy of further reflection. 2) The "truth" on any matter -- and expecially the true nature of truth itself -- may be beyond our limited abilities to fully grasp. Perhaps only a higher power can attain that knowledge and it is mere hubris on the part of humans to attempt it. We can all gain from approaching these searches with humility. 3) (I know, I said just two, but as the initial and unintentional spark of this increasingly heated exchange, I feel I have to add this) I don't know the source or cause or "truth" of the last post, but it is completely out of place in this civilized exchange. My ex-husband initiated something similar between our two blogs. After I sent him a message about my view of the tenor I wanted to maintain in online expression, which began "Some private issues should remain private," we each deleted portions of our blogs that referred to personal unpleasantness. It has served us both well. I recommend that attitude to MM. Date Added: 04/07/2006
Way Yikes and glomerfication! This reminds me of those pesky Cailfornia wildfires I always see on the teevee. Gone, my words don't always follow my thoughts obediantly without me yelling, screaming and the loud cracking of whips. Even then, a poodle is sure to join the fray which, at times, provides me more than its fair share of entertaining nonsense. Silly poodles. Who can trust a four-legged grinning French animal? So, let me pen the wild hounds for a bit and see if we can sort this out before volunteer firemen are called in from out-of-state. I liked your article, which I found deep and thoughtful. What kept me in the dark was the writer you referenced, and so I mentioned guilt over not venturing over to read any of her her words. That was probably not stated plain enough (Fragile certainly seems nice, and expresses herself very well).As to kin and relativity, it had something to do with either Einstein, or possibly some sleazy former-Marine comment that popped out on a whole different subject of no consequence whatsoever. No matter, that. Now I feel tempted to revel in angst over any misunderstanding I must have caused, but it is just the wrong day today, being such a grand forth of July. Life is too, too wonderful, weatherwise, peoplewise and alewize, and by gum, that is the truth. I salute you, my friend, and wish you more than my share of those things. (what I find oddly funny here is some unknown person taking Way's defense on this hill, and acting mighty serious. That, to me, is pure gold.) Date Added: 04/07/2006
Gone Away I will not be answering your comment, MM, not because I have no answers, but because it would inevitably involve exposing other parties' actions to the public eye. That I do not wish.
I have removed your reference to my children as there is no need for them to be dragged into this. Kindly think carefully before exposing innocents to potential ridicule again. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Gone Away Thank you, Fragile. 'Tis indeed a joint effort. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Gone Away You, Way, are a gem beyond price. :) Date Added: 05/07/2006
Marti Holy (or sacred) cow! LOL I do not believe there is any absolute truth that we as humans can understand. You (the generic "you") may say, "Grass is green. That is an absolute truth." But it is not the truth to a colorblind person. It is not true of dead grass. The generic "you" might say, "Hitler is dead. That is an absolute truth." Yet we know not what lies beyond the great (or small) divide between life and afterlife. Many who think our soul is eternal would argue that Hitler is not dead, he is just no longer a human being with a pulse. Even science and mathematics do not have absolute truths. One plus one is two? Not in base five. Go ahead. Think of any "absolute truth," then think what one who disputes your position would say in opposition. Is there validity to both arguments? Probably. Until we (the generic "we") can wrap our mind around the abstract notion that there is no absolute truth, it will be more difficult to fight the smugness that comes from being convinced that we (the generic) are right and everyone else is wrong. I don't claim to know it all, in fact I know that I know very little LOL! So I try to keep an open mind and listen (not just hear) to those who disagree with me. My hope is that more people will try this. May peace and joy be with all of you. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Gone Away Peace and joy to you too, Marti. The problem with developing the idea of no absolute truth from the examples you give is that it results in nothing being true. Once we have reached that position, everything becomes meaningless. It would make as much sense for me to shoot all those who disagree with me as it would to listen to them. Whatever our position on the question of absolute truth, the fact is that we all behave as if some things are true regardless of from where they are perceived; so murder is frowned upon in all cultures and the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Yes, we can play around with relativity and say that, from the sun's point of view, it doesn't rise or set at all - but that is expressing the same truth in different words. Of course things look different from another perspective (and that is why we need to listen to other viewpoints) but the things themselves don't change - they are far too busy just expressing absolute truth. :). Date Added: 05/07/2006
Way This is one deep hole. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Gone Away I'm expecting to break through to Australia at any moment, Way. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Way You don't say! Tie me down to a kangaroo when she blows. mite. I swear. I got problems to fill this hole which would end up being a sizable mountain that would make us all rich from tours and ski lift proceedings. Blog is being a particularly nasty distaff dog today, and I am getting awful sore. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Gone Away Blog is an unforgiving slave driver. Sometimes 'tis better to sit and watch the world go by. Here, have a tinny.
I was thinking today I might try to describe my wonder at the most incredible firework display I saw in this here Yankeeland t'other night. Then I thought: ah well, it will wait until tomorrow... Date Added: 05/07/2006
Way Okay, I admit I am curious. What is a tinny? And describe fireworks with words? You jest, senoir. C'mon. I would sooner paint autumn leaves or a sunset. What is IN this tinny? Date Added: 05/07/2006
Gone Away A tinny is an Ozzie word for a beer, Way. Or so I'm reliably informed. As for the fireworks, I am so blown away, I have to attempt it. Watch this space. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Way I am sure that I smell delicious cordite, among other sweet odors. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Way Oh, and thanks for the tinny. That comes in so handy, atm. Date Added: 05/07/2006
Marti One more shovel full out of the hole, onto the mountain, or both - LOL) Absolute truth and strong personal beliefs are not the same thing. I have a strong personal belief in a Higher Power. I don't find it incongruous with science, evolution, the Big Bang or string theory. I believe this Higher Power is in everything, a part of every atom and sub-atomic particle, right down to the ones we can’t even see or understand. I have a strong personal belief that we have a soul, which is a little piece of the Higher Power, and that all of our souls form a collective consciousness. I believe that this soul begins as a part of this “whole” which is the Higher Power, and goes off on a mission of education each time it breaks away and lands inside a human being. That it carries basic tenets of what is right and wrong within it. (The “meaningfulness” of life LOL) I believe the soul resides inside a person during their mortal life on earth, then returns to the larger whole and shares what it learned. I believe this process repeats many times (reincarnation). I believe that the soul has elected this journey. The reasoning of the choices may be incomprehensible to most of us, but I believe that ultimately there is a purpose, which serves the greater good of the Higher Power, which is ultimately, everything. Each soul is climbing a ladder it had a hand in building, and when it reaches the top rung, steps back into the bright light of the Higher Power, even as new souls are emerging at their ladder’s base. I know this is getting pretty esoteric and “out there”. But it gives me comfort. It helps me believe that there is logic to things that seem illogical to me. That evil is balanced by good, even if I don’t have both of them in my field of vision. That I can contribute positively, and that those contributions, even if they seem meaningless at the time, are not irrelevant. That I must make my soul’s donation be kind, loving, understanding and compassionate. This gives meaning to every one of my actions, and I am ultimately responsible for what gets added to the Big Dump - LOL Date Added: 07/07/2006
Gone Away I agree with you, Marti, that "absolute truth and strong personal beliefs are not the same thing." And I, too, believe in a higher power and this does not conflict with what science tells us. So we all find our absolute truths somewhere... Date Added: 07/07/2006
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