I continually observe that people do not understand the difference
between facts, opinions and beliefs. This is such a fundamental understanding
of our own knowledge that without it we cannot even begin to have a rational
discussion about the merits of our positions on issues. That is why I chose
this topic for the first substantive blog post on True Neutral Politics.
A fact is an objective truth. It doesn’t matter what we
think about it, how we feel about it, or even that we are aware of it at all.
It is true regardless. We know that it is true because it is supported by
evidence. Evidence we can see, study, and test. Just because someone claims
that something is a fact doesn’t mean you have to believe them. I am a
proponent of the “Question Everything” mantra. However, there comes a point
when we have to accept reality.
An individual cannot be omniscient. It is not possible to be
an expert in, nor have first hand knowledge of, everything. We can almost never
reach a level of absolute certainty. Perhaps our entire world exists only in
the dreams of some extra-dimensional, celestial being. While some may find
these wild, philosophical concepts fascinating, in any practical sense, they
are useless. When, in the world that we exist in each day, there is an abundance
of evidence and an overwhelming consensus amongst experts, it is time to accept
something as a fact.
I will illustrate this point with an example. I accept that
it is a fact that the earth is a sphere (more or less), and that it spins and
orbits a star. I have never personally circumnavigated the earth from outer space.
I haven’t even traveled around the world within its atmosphere. Nonetheless, given
the abundance of evidence and consensus amongst experts in the field of
astronomy, I will confidently claim that about the earth. You might be saying
to yourself, “That is ridiculous, of course everyone agrees the earth is
round.” Well, actually, like I said, it is a sphere (more or less), and,
semantics aside, there is not total agreement on the topic. Look up “The Flat Earth
Society”. I’ll admit, it is impossible to tell if they are serious, are trying
to prove some point, or are just trolls. Regardless of their motivations, however,
they exist.
When there is an abundance of evidence and an overwhelming
consensus amongst experts in a field of study supporting a fact and we refuse
to accept it as such, it is called a conspiracy theory. When we believe in a
conspiracy theory we are literally claiming that the hundreds, thousands, or
even millions of people involved with the study of something are all working in
a coordinated effort to obfuscate, or somehow mischaracterize, the real truth. All
of these, so-called, experts are able to hide their devious plans from anyone
who would expose them. We believe this against all odds, and without credible
evidence of our own claims. Conspiracy theories, like philosophical
nothingness, are useless tools for developing social policy.
Opinions are your personal, subjective thoughts about
something. An opinion may be how much you like, or dislike something. It may be
that you think a particular policy will elicit a particular outcome in the
future. While it may be possible to confidently predict some simple things,
such as dropping something will fall, any idea of what will result from a
complex social issue will always remain an opinion. That is not to say that
some opinions aren’t more substantial or some predictions aren’t more likely
than others. It is not your opinion that a verifiable fact is not true, such as
the world is flat; that is just called being wrong.
Beliefs have a less specific definition. They are basically
anything that you think about something. You may believe a fact is true or
false, but that doesn’t make it true of false. A fact is either true or false,
and we know it because it can be proven; it doesn’t matter what you think. You
may believe an opinion is right or wrong, but, yeah, well, that’s just like
your opinion, man. Beliefs would even include faith, which is just a belief in
something despite its lack of evidence.
The only way the concept of belief adds to our understanding
of our positions is when we think of it in a more general sense. You believe in
a value or virtue. That belief helps you form your opinions about facts. For
example, you might believe in individual freedom. Then, when you discover a
fact that there is a new law proposed that restricts individual freedom, you
form your opinion in opposition to that law.
Here in the United
States , like quite a few places around the
world these days, we have the right of free speech and free thought. While this
sounds simple enough, it can be misunderstood. All that free speech means is
that is not illegal to say, with a handful of exceptions, or think something.
Not being a crime is where the protection ends.
The fact that it is not illegal to think something does not
in any way mean that any opinion or belief is just as relevant as any other
opinion or belief. There are people who refuse to accept proven facts. Many
opinions are based on facts with little or no evidence to support them. They
can be derived with logical fallacy and full of hypocrisy. Beliefs in magic and medieval era values lead to distorted
opinions of even true facts. To put it another way, just because it is not illegal to be
wrong does not mean you are not wrong.
Furthermore, just because saying something is not a crime
does not mean that there are no consequences for expressing one’s thoughts. Social
media accounts being suspended or shut down, product lines being removed from
stores, and boycotts of businesses are a few examples of the potential
consequences of ones speech, and none of these things are going against
anyone’s rights. When these things happen, people cry about free speech and how
it’s not fair. However, the truth is that the fact they are not arrested is
evidence that their right to free speech has not been violated. No one else is
required to like, support or give a platform for what you have to say.
At this point, I am asking for people to think about what
they think about things. Is something a fact? Does it have evidence? What are
the general values that I feel are important for me, my core beliefs? Are my
opinions based on actual facts? Are my opinions derived using logical fallacy?
Are my opinions consistent with my beliefs? If everyone just questioned
themselves a little more, I think we could significantly reduce the bullshit
machine gun that our social discourse has become.
