- This is only a part of the full episode, which will be available as a podcast as of tomorrow! Subscribe to our newsletter to get access! -
“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.” (André Gide)Truth can be many things. It can be liberating or hurtful, uncomfortable or enlightening. Sometimes it seems unbearable, sometimes inevitable. Sometimes it's as clear as can be. More often than not, however, it's hard to tell. To know. To be sure of.
We live in a time where it's easier than ever before to spread something we believe is true all over the world. And it's just as easy to find data, statements and references to underline our opinion and therefore make it more believable and, well, more "true" in our eyes (and in those of others).
There are studies and statistics about pretty much anything you could think of. And depending on who carried them out and why, who financed them and with what interests in mind, the outcome will be influenced by those and many other factors.
Which makes searching for the truth not only difficult, but actually impossible. Doesn't it?
The sheer amount of information washing over us in the newsfeed of our social media accounts every day is so overwhelming, it's hard to tell important information from shallow distraction, real from fake news, friends from foes.
And yet there are always those who are sure that they've got it all figured out.
"This is a fact", "It has been proven", "It is common knowledge" are killer arguments in every debate. Because a fact is never wrong. A proof is irrefutable. Common knowledge can not be questioned.
Well. If there is one thing humankind never was, it's humble. We tend to be pretty convinced of the accuracy of our own point of view. If someone holds a red apple in front of our face, we tend to call it "red" before we ask ourselves if maybe the side of the apple facing the other way might be green or yellow. We believe what we see. And all too often, we believe what we want to believe.
[This episode does not end here! Listen to the podcast to get it all!]
