Obstacles to truth
Truth is a concept that seems ungraspable.
Because fundamentally Truth is infinite.
I like to clarify and simplify concepts so we can at least have a grasp of it and align on what is it we’re talking about.
So I’ll define Truth as the ultimately precise description of the nature of reality.
When we say: “This is true”. It means It’s a close and useful approximative description of the thing that is put forth.
And as finite creatures all we can have is a perspective upon the infinite truth of things. And so It’s the sanest thing to do to consider that no one has monopoly on truth, and no one will be able to fully grasp it.
That being said, some individuals can hold a perspective more accurate upon the true nature of a phenomenon than someone else. Like some people are taller than others.
It is just incredibly hard to judge, because we have so many forces that steers us away from accepting that proposed perspective as part of our currently established belief structure.
Let’s assume theory A is guaranteed a closer approximation of reality than theory B. (Ex: Einstein’s theory vs Newton’s. )
Theory A is newer, and Theory B is older and well established.
What would prevent individuals adopting Theory A as opposed to Theory B?
Those are some of the many obstacles that would prevent you from adopting a new accurate perspective on reality:
1. Skepticism
When someone is proposing a new theory that is closer to truth. The first reaction of an already well established mind and used to logical thinking is one of skepticism. Skepticism is healthy and make sure that we vet all ideas that come to us before we adopt them. That being said, we ought to apply our skepticism indiscriminately, so to both ur current beliefs and to the new beliefs. But often we only apply our skepticism to that new belief because we assume we already know, when in reality all that “Already Knowing” is, is an unbendable belief shaped by our internal learnings and external teachings.
2. Missing Keys
In order for someone to adopt a new knowledge, the receiver would need to possess a few certain keys that would allow that knowledge to be unlocked. Without those keys, one does not have access to opening the door to that new knowledge. EX: One cannot understand Differential equations if one does not yet understand what an equation is.
The new knowledge might be predicated on one or a few keys of understanding so that one can connect existing knowledge and the new knowledge that is put forth. To simply put, we might not be able to yet understand the new knowledge.
3. Identity
One’s very identification with a particular ideology prevent the adoption of a new belief.
We’re social creatures more than We’re logical ones. So for us to become perfectly rational, we have to push aside our emotional biases and to have as affinity the one for truth beyond our affinity for our ideological belonging.
Ex: If we identify as A Christian, we’ve got stakes into discarding some ideas in the bible for new ones. Our very identity is tied to this collection of ideas. So that if one is challenged, it challenges the whole ideological package potentially and so our very identity would be diminished by the same occasion.
The same goes for scientists, politicians, teachers, philosophers…
4. Egoism
As healthy Skepticism is. It ought to not come from a place of anxiety but from a place of detachment. A new more accurate theory would potentially conflict or disavow the theory that one current holds as closer to truth. Yet often what we consider being genuine ‘skepticism’ is a rationalisation of subconscious biases trying to protect our egos. Having someone put forth a new better theory A means that we’ve been slightly misguided in holding the other theory. And that can be an upsetting thing. Hence why a predication for wisdom is to have humility in order to detach one’s ego from one’s belief system.
5. Novelty
Let’s say a younger theorist would put forth theory A (Like Einstein did), and an older individual has been sponsoring theory B for a great segment of his life, It could cause a tremendous mental discomfort into thinking that one has wasted its time if A is true. Hence why there’s always resistance from the old towards the new. The old has stakes and much to lose, when the new doesn’t has all to win. Because with truth seeking and sharing, there’s often an arena that’s either overt or covert that makes It a lose/win game for participants. It goes without saying that the pursuit of higher truth requires a stepping away from this dynamic.
6. Jealousy
This is almost a subset of the issue of the ego when it comes to thinking. As in the previous example, an individual define its self worth in various ways, but one of them amongst truth seeker is often to know who’s wiser and smarter than the peer. We assess our status only in relation to others, and so the potential higher wisdom of someone else on a particular subject and it being in a larger social context could be considered as threatening to one’s status. Hence how we can discard a new knowledge with what we call “Bad Faith”, It simply being a protection mechanism for the ego.
7. Mental courage
Not everyone is willing to have the discipline to rebuild their mental structure.
It is a practice that only a subset of the population is keen on doing. Perhaps certain personality types are more inclined to do so. Such as Introverts & thinkers in the Myers Briggs model, and those who possess the Openness to experience trait in the Big Five model. To adopt a new knowledge, one has to value verity as its upmost value. One has to have the passion and mental stamina to constantly re-update one’s perspective on reality for a better one. Like a map in a constant state of redesign.
8. Authority
As fine discernment is extremely scarce, we rely on external display of intellectual authority in order to make up our own minds. Since, not everyone has the time, ability or willingness to build its own mental structure, It is easier to rely on a social proof that vet the person formulating an idea. So we do not assess the ideas being put forth in a vacuum but we consider them according to whom is formulating them. And It is a lot more difficult for us to consider a higher truth spoken from the mouth of an individual who do not have any displays of intellectual authority. Like a Ph. D, a position as professor in a renown establishment, a quantity of sales, etc…
In reality there are many more. Because true nature of reality is infinite. But those are some of the most prominent patterns I believe.
And by acknowledging those, one can understand the trappings that oneself would have to consider in order to achieve a higher understanding of the nature of reality.
