You don’t need to be a scientist or a philosopher for facts, reality, and the truth to matter. The alternative is simply known as bullshit.
What’s the harm in a little white lie? What’s the harm in telling a story that’s more compelling, entertaining, or convincing than the actual truth? What’s the harm in exaggeration or hyperbole, or in attempting to persuade others of a position that’s contrary to reality?
Most of us do these things all the time, often for our own personal gain or to reduce our potential liability. We lie to our loved ones about our activities, seeking to not get into trouble for our actions. We discount robust, fact-based evidence that contradicts our preferred narratives and conclusions, while elevating and emphasizing stories that may not be true but that agree with our preconceptions. And if we’re seeking attention, empathy, the adulation of others, or to stir up strong feelings in our audience, we might make statements designed to arouse precisely those responses, without any regard for whether what we’re stating is truthful or not.
We often think that the oppose of the truth is a lie, but that’s not quite right. Instead, the opposite of being wedded to a fact-based, evidence-based reality, where the truth…
#importance #caring #truth #Ethan #Siegel #Starts #Bang #Apr
