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The Evolution of Truth | Michael Peters | TEDxRuakura


imagine that you’ve been lied to by your

imagine that you’ve been lied to by your partner or closest friend it’s a hurtful

partner or closest friend it’s a hurtful

partner or closest friend it’s a hurtful lie and you feel let down and

lie and you feel let down and

lie and you feel let down and disappointed after all lying is a

disappointed after all lying is a

disappointed after all lying is a violation of trust and it destroys

violation of trust and it destroys

violation of trust and it destroys humans relationships a lie has social

humans relationships a lie has social

humans relationships a lie has social and political consequences a single lie

and political consequences a single lie

and political consequences a single lie can bring down a political party or

can bring down a political party or

can bring down a political party or government Hitler coined the expression

government Hitler coined the expression

government Hitler coined the expression the big lie in mine Kemp a lie so

the big lie in mine Kemp a lie so

the big lie in mine Kemp a lie so colossal everyone would believe it

colossal everyone would believe it

colossal everyone would believe it because no one could believe that the

because no one could believe that the

because no one could believe that the truth could be so hideously distorted

having really held a conversation with

having really held a conversation with someone who lives in a fantasy world

someone who lives in a fantasy world

someone who lives in a fantasy world where you suspect everything said is

where you suspect everything said is

where you suspect everything said is just total exaggeration you might be

just total exaggeration you might be

just total exaggeration you might be dealing with a pathological liar

dealing with a pathological liar

dealing with a pathological liar typically a pathological liar is

typically a pathological liar is

typically a pathological liar is narcissistic selfish and delusional

narcissistic selfish and delusional

narcissistic selfish and delusional lying becomes compulsive and habitual

lying becomes compulsive and habitual

lying becomes compulsive and habitual pathological liars suffer false memory

pathological liars suffer false memory

pathological liars suffer false memory syndrome many believe they’ve

syndrome many believe they’ve

syndrome many believe they’ve accomplished superhuman feats this kind

accomplished superhuman feats this kind

accomplished superhuman feats this kind of compulsive lying is regarded as a

of compulsive lying is regarded as a

of compulsive lying is regarded as a psychiatric disorder we all lie on

psychiatric disorder we all lie on

psychiatric disorder we all lie on occasions most of us might tell a white

occasions most of us might tell a white

occasions most of us might tell a white lie to save someone’s feelings but most

lie to save someone’s feelings but most

lie to save someone’s feelings but most of the time we tell the truth we are

of the time we tell the truth we are

of the time we tell the truth we are brought up in a culture which has a deep

brought up in a culture which has a deep

brought up in a culture which has a deep respect for telling the truth some would

respect for telling the truth some would

respect for telling the truth some would argue that in our culture we are

argue that in our culture we are

argue that in our culture we are compelled for tell the truth about

compelled for tell the truth about

compelled for tell the truth about ourselves and our feelings even when the

ourselves and our feelings even when the

ourselves and our feelings even when the consequences might be painful sharing

consequences might be painful sharing

consequences might be painful sharing our private lives and converting and

our private lives and converting and

our private lives and converting and others actually creates intimacy and

others actually creates intimacy and

others actually creates intimacy and relationships in the age of social media

relationships in the age of social media

relationships in the age of social media there’s a fashion a fascination with the

there’s a fashion a fascination with the

there’s a fashion a fascination with the lives of ordinary people we have become

lives of ordinary people we have become

lives of ordinary people we have become the confessional Society reality TV

the confessional Society reality TV

the confessional Society reality TV rules Western society has established

rules Western society has established

rules Western society has established the confession as one of the main

the confession as one of the main

the confession as one of the main rituals that we rely on for the

rituals that we rely on for the

rituals that we rely on for the production of truth not only in the

production of truth not only in the

production of truth not only in the social media but also in the courtroom

social media but also in the courtroom

social media but also in the courtroom in the newsroom and in the classroom

in the newsroom and in the classroom

in the newsroom and in the classroom truth is central to all our institutions

truth is central to all our institutions

truth is central to all our institutions and human communication is only possible

and human communication is only possible

and human communication is only possible against a background of truth and truth

against a background of truth and truth

against a background of truth and truth telling

telling

telling can you imagine a society based on

can you imagine a society based on

can you imagine a society based on systematic lying where no speech is

systematic lying where no speech is

systematic lying where no speech is reliable you couldn’t believe a stranger

reliable you couldn’t believe a stranger

reliable you couldn’t believe a stranger giving street directions or trust the

giving street directions or trust the

giving street directions or trust the newspaper report or a friend who

newspaper report or a friend who

newspaper report or a friend who confides in you truth in is a deep

confides in you truth in is a deep

confides in you truth in is a deep cultural practice in the West yet we

cultural practice in the West yet we

cultural practice in the West yet we take it for granted and only question it

take it for granted and only question it

take it for granted and only question it when we were exposed to the consequences

when we were exposed to the consequences

when we were exposed to the consequences or the effects of a lie but truth also

or the effects of a lie but truth also

or the effects of a lie but truth also takes many different forms and has

takes many different forms and has

takes many different forms and has changed the shape over time the ancient

changed the shape over time the ancient

changed the shape over time the ancient Greeks had a concept Alethea meaning

Greeks had a concept Alethea meaning

Greeks had a concept Alethea meaning unconcealed or openness truth was seen

unconcealed or openness truth was seen

unconcealed or openness truth was seen as a form of personal disclosure in

as a form of personal disclosure in

as a form of personal disclosure in Greek mythology ilithyia

Greek mythology ilithyia

Greek mythology ilithyia is the daughter of Zeus she’s the

is the daughter of Zeus she’s the

is the daughter of Zeus she’s the goddess of truth and she’s pitted

goddess of truth and she’s pitted

goddess of truth and she’s pitted against the gods of deception trickery

against the gods of deception trickery

against the gods of deception trickery and lies the ancient poet Homer uses the

and lies the ancient poet Homer uses the

and lies the ancient poet Homer uses the word Allah fear in the Iliad and the

word Allah fear in the Iliad and the

word Allah fear in the Iliad and the Odyssey to mean truth where truth has to

Odyssey to mean truth where truth has to

Odyssey to mean truth where truth has to do with the reliability of what is being

do with the reliability of what is being

do with the reliability of what is being said by one person to another it

said by one person to another it

said by one person to another it opposite for hermas liable deception

opposite for hermas liable deception

opposite for hermas liable deception then verily my child I will tell you the

then verily my child I will tell you the

then verily my child I will tell you the truth this is the ritual sentence that

truth this is the ritual sentence that

truth this is the ritual sentence that occurs five times in the Odyssey the

occurs five times in the Odyssey the

occurs five times in the Odyssey the word often occurs in the phrase the

word often occurs in the phrase the

word often occurs in the phrase the whole truth to tell the whole truth in

whole truth to tell the whole truth in

whole truth to tell the whole truth in this sense is not just to utter some

this sense is not just to utter some

this sense is not just to utter some sentence which is true it is to give the

sentence which is true it is to give the

sentence which is true it is to give the whole account to tell the whole story in

whole account to tell the whole story in

whole account to tell the whole story in the Iliad

the Iliad

the Iliad for example Achilles asks Phoenix to act

for example Achilles asks Phoenix to act

for example Achilles asks Phoenix to act as umpire in a chariot race and to

as umpire in a chariot race and to

as umpire in a chariot race and to report back to him the truth the

report back to him the truth the

report back to him the truth the traditional oath required of a witness

traditional oath required of a witness

traditional oath required of a witness in court proceedings you know to tell

in court proceedings you know to tell

in court proceedings you know to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing

the truth the whole truth and nothing

the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth

but the truth

but the truth dates from this ancient source 3,000

dates from this ancient source 3,000

dates from this ancient source 3,000 years ago in this ancient tradition

years ago in this ancient tradition

years ago in this ancient tradition Alethea is a matter of being truthful

Alethea is a matter of being truthful

Alethea is a matter of being truthful and open in one’s personal dealings with

and open in one’s personal dealings with

and open in one’s personal dealings with another so what can what a said can be

another so what can what a said can be

another so what can what a said can be taken by hearers as reliable and

taken by hearers as reliable and

taken by hearers as reliable and trustworthy it seems like all classical

trustworthy it seems like all classical

trustworthy it seems like all classical cultures have a notion like truth

cultures have a notion like truth

cultures have a notion like truth Chinese philosophy uses the term vowel

Chinese philosophy uses the term vowel

Chinese philosophy uses the term vowel which means way in the sense of path but

which means way in the sense of path but

which means way in the sense of path but thou also refers to a philosophical

thou also refers to a philosophical

thou also refers to a philosophical tradition concerned with moral education

tradition concerned with moral education

tradition concerned with moral education and rightful action it functions like

and rightful action it functions like

and rightful action it functions like truth in the Western tradition thou is

truth in the Western tradition thou is

truth in the Western tradition thou is the intuitive knowing of life that

the intuitive knowing of life that

the intuitive knowing of life that cannot be grasped theoretically or as a

cannot be grasped theoretically or as a

cannot be grasped theoretically or as a concept that can only be known through

concept that can only be known through

concept that can only be known through the actual living experience of one’s

the actual living experience of one’s

the actual living experience of one’s every day’s existence it represents the

every day’s existence it represents the

every day’s existence it represents the underlying natural order of the universe

underlying natural order of the universe

underlying natural order of the universe and refers to the spiritual

and refers to the spiritual

and refers to the spiritual enlightenment that follows from living

enlightenment that follows from living

enlightenment that follows from living the proper way

the proper way

the proper way in Buddhism the Four Noble Truths

in Buddhism the Four Noble Truths

in Buddhism the Four Noble Truths comprise the issuance of the Buddha’s

comprise the issuance of the Buddha’s

comprise the issuance of the Buddha’s teachings they include the truth of

teachings they include the truth of

teachings they include the truth of suffering and the truth of the path that

suffering and the truth of the path that

suffering and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering which can

leads to the end of suffering which can

leads to the end of suffering which can be learned as the realities of the world

be learned as the realities of the world

be learned as the realities of the world by those who have reached Nirvana

by those who have reached Nirvana

by those who have reached Nirvana I teach suffering its origin cessation

I teach suffering its origin cessation

I teach suffering its origin cessation and path that’s all I teach the Buddha

and path that’s all I teach the Buddha

and path that’s all I teach the Buddha the clear two and a half thousand years

the clear two and a half thousand years

the clear two and a half thousand years ago the Persian philosopher Avicenna in

ago the Persian philosopher Avicenna in

ago the Persian philosopher Avicenna in the book of healing defines truth as

the book of healing defines truth as

the book of healing defines truth as that which in the mind corresponds to

that which in the mind corresponds to

that which in the mind corresponds to what is outside it the Islamic tradition

what is outside it the Islamic tradition

what is outside it the Islamic tradition puts a premium on truth-telling and

puts a premium on truth-telling and

puts a premium on truth-telling and avoidance of lying and deception

avoidance of lying and deception

avoidance of lying and deception I will not claim that truth is universal

I will not claim that truth is universal

I will not claim that truth is universal to all cultures but it certainly seems

to all cultures but it certainly seems

to all cultures but it certainly seems to underwrite the classical

to underwrite the classical

to underwrite the classical civilizations Testament now here’s an

civilizations Testament now here’s an

civilizations Testament now here’s an interesting word Testament means

interesting word Testament means

interesting word Testament means testimony witness evidence proof all

testimony witness evidence proof all

testimony witness evidence proof all relating to the family of truth one

relating to the family of truth one

relating to the family of truth one source very influential in Western

source very influential in Western

source very influential in Western culture as you know as the New Testament

culture as you know as the New Testament

culture as you know as the New Testament in the Gospel of John Jesus says I am

in the Gospel of John Jesus says I am

in the Gospel of John Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life he says

the way the truth and the life he says

the way the truth and the life he says to his followers you know the truth and

to his followers you know the truth and

to his followers you know the truth and the truth will set you free

the truth will set you free

the truth will set you free we analyze this we see Christianity

we analyze this we see Christianity

we analyze this we see Christianity truth this part of the Godhead and

truth this part of the Godhead and

truth this part of the Godhead and Christianity truth is divine and as

Christianity truth is divine and as

Christianity truth is divine and as Augustine argues much later later lying

Augustine argues much later later lying

Augustine argues much later later lying is a sin one historical consequence of

is a sin one historical consequence of

is a sin one historical consequence of this is that truth is associated with

this is that truth is associated with

this is that truth is associated with spiritual freedom later political

spiritual freedom later political

spiritual freedom later political freedom and it’s also expressible in

freedom and it’s also expressible in

freedom and it’s also expressible in language it’s the basis for the

language it’s the basis for the

language it’s the basis for the secularization of truth in science

secularization of truth in science

secularization of truth in science during the 17th century when truth

during the 17th century when truth

during the 17th century when truth becomes a property of sentences a very

becomes a property of sentences a very

becomes a property of sentences a very brief history of the concept of truth

brief history of the concept of truth

brief history of the concept of truth reveals that it changes its meaning over

reveals that it changes its meaning over

reveals that it changes its meaning over time so for example in the Middle Ages

time so for example in the Middle Ages

time so for example in the Middle Ages truth shifts from a subjective concept

truth shifts from a subjective concept

truth shifts from a subjective concept associated with my truth meaning my word

associated with my truth meaning my word

associated with my truth meaning my word both into a more objective one used in

both into a more objective one used in

both into a more objective one used in the political realm to refer to legal

the political realm to refer to legal

the political realm to refer to legal documents truth comes to mean being in

documents truth comes to mean being in

documents truth comes to mean being in accord with the law in accord with the

accord with the law in accord with the

accord with the law in accord with the facts and later in accord with reality

facts and later in accord with reality

facts and later in accord with reality this then is the essence of empirical

this then is the essence of empirical

this then is the essence of empirical science we’re true really means an

science we’re true really means an

science we’re true really means an accurate representation of the world of

accurate representation of the world of

accurate representation of the world of reality

reality

reality in 1684 a German philosopher makes a

in 1684 a German philosopher makes a

in 1684 a German philosopher makes a distinction between truths of reason and

distinction between truths of reason and

distinction between truths of reason and truth of fact that is between necessary

truth of fact that is between necessary

truth of fact that is between necessary and contingent truths so truths of

and contingent truths so truths of

and contingent truths so truths of reason mathematical truths like two plus

reason mathematical truths like two plus

reason mathematical truths like two plus two equals four which is true by virtue

two equals four which is true by virtue

two equals four which is true by virtue of the meaning of the sign of the plus

of the meaning of the sign of the plus

of the meaning of the sign of the plus and the equal throughs effect by

and the equal throughs effect by

and the equal throughs effect by comparison a true by virtue of being an

comparison a true by virtue of being an

comparison a true by virtue of being an accurate description of reality to

accurate description of reality to

accurate description of reality to describe a state of affairs in the world

describe a state of affairs in the world

describe a state of affairs in the world so science is distinguished by a success

so science is distinguished by a success

so science is distinguished by a success in describing the world by its

in describing the world by its

in describing the world by its predictive power by its problem-solving

predictive power by its problem-solving

predictive power by its problem-solving and explanation even though its

and explanation even though its

and explanation even though its rationality and progress might be open

rationality and progress might be open

rationality and progress might be open to question this is the basis for

to question this is the basis for

to question this is the basis for science and scientific method when

science and scientific method when

science and scientific method when claims to knowledge don’t meet these

claims to knowledge don’t meet these

claims to knowledge don’t meet these standards we call them pseudoscience

standards we call them pseudoscience

standards we call them pseudoscience really the difference between astronomy

really the difference between astronomy

really the difference between astronomy on the one hand

on the one hand

on the one hand and astrology on the other and the West

and astrology on the other and the West

and astrology on the other and the West besides scientific and mathematical

besides scientific and mathematical

besides scientific and mathematical truth we also have a tradition of truth

truth we also have a tradition of truth

truth we also have a tradition of truth telling it was initiated by Socrates

telling it was initiated by Socrates

telling it was initiated by Socrates revolving around four questions who was

revolving around four questions who was

revolving around four questions who was able to tell the truth about what with

able to tell the truth about what with

able to tell the truth about what with what consequences and what relation to

what consequences and what relation to

what consequences and what relation to power these practices linked

power these practices linked

power these practices linked truth-telling to the law to education to

truth-telling to the law to education to

truth-telling to the law to education to history to the media and to ourselves in

history to the media and to ourselves in

history to the media and to ourselves in ancient Greek and Roman culture

ancient Greek and Roman culture

ancient Greek and Roman culture truth-telling was a risky business

truth-telling was a risky business

truth-telling was a risky business related to the duty to help others a

related to the duty to help others a

related to the duty to help others a truth-teller sometimes risks his life

truth-teller sometimes risks his life

truth-teller sometimes risks his life and uses his freedom to choose frankness

and uses his freedom to choose frankness

and uses his freedom to choose frankness and see the persuasion truth instead of

and see the persuasion truth instead of

and see the persuasion truth instead of falsehood or silence criticism instead

falsehood or silence criticism instead

falsehood or silence criticism instead of flattery and moral duty instead of

of flattery and moral duty instead of

of flattery and moral duty instead of self-interest in moral ever fear is of

self-interest in moral ever fear is of

self-interest in moral ever fear is of death instead of life and security and

death instead of life and security and

death instead of life and security and Western philosophy following Plato we

Western philosophy following Plato we

Western philosophy following Plato we talk of knowledge as justified true

talk of knowledge as justified true

talk of knowledge as justified true belief there is for something to be

belief there is for something to be

belief there is for something to be knowledge it must have a pull a belief

knowledge it must have a pull a belief

knowledge it must have a pull a belief condition a truth condition and a

condition a truth condition and a

condition a truth condition and a justification condition that must

justification condition that must

justification condition that must advance reasons or evidence in the shift

advance reasons or evidence in the shift

advance reasons or evidence in the shift to information media society these

to information media society these

to information media society these conditions no longer apply here is no

conditions no longer apply here is no

conditions no longer apply here is no truth belief or justification condition

truth belief or justification condition

truth belief or justification condition there is just information and it may be

there is just information and it may be

there is just information and it may be misinformation or disinformation but

misinformation or disinformation but

misinformation or disinformation but today we live in a post truth era as

today we live in a post truth era as

today we live in a post truth era as opposed to truth really would

opposed to truth really would

opposed to truth really would the oxford dictionary named it would

the oxford dictionary named it would

the oxford dictionary named it would the year in 2016 post truth refers to a

the year in 2016 post truth refers to a

the year in 2016 post truth refers to a situation where appeals to emotion and

situation where appeals to emotion and

situation where appeals to emotion and personal belief trump objective facts

the economists ran an article both truth

the economists ran an article both truth politics out of the line referring

politics out of the line referring

politics out of the line referring through donald trump during his campaign

through donald trump during his campaign

through donald trump during his campaign when he claimed barack obama is the

when he claimed barack obama is the

when he claimed barack obama is the founder of islamic state along with

founder of islamic state along with

founder of islamic state along with hillary clinton imagined that obama and

hillary clinton imagined that obama and

hillary clinton imagined that obama and clinton the founders of the worst

clinton the founders of the worst

clinton the founders of the worst terrorist movement within the west even

terrorist movement within the west even

terrorist movement within the west even his close supporters were perplexed

his close supporters were perplexed

his close supporters were perplexed brexit and trump’s triumph in the u.s.

brexit and trump’s triumph in the u.s.

brexit and trump’s triumph in the u.s. election indicates a dramatic turn

election indicates a dramatic turn

election indicates a dramatic turn against the global international order

against the global international order

against the global international order it’s fueled by a coincidence of older

it’s fueled by a coincidence of older

it’s fueled by a coincidence of older conservative social values

conservative social values

conservative social values anti-immigration sentiments climate

anti-immigration sentiments climate

anti-immigration sentiments climate change denial and some worrying trends

change denial and some worrying trends

change denial and some worrying trends to do with white supremacist

to do with white supremacist

to do with white supremacist working-class folk from the d

working-class folk from the d

working-class folk from the d industrialized areas of the u.s. got

industrialized areas of the u.s. got

industrialized areas of the u.s. got left behind when american manufacturing

left behind when american manufacturing

left behind when american manufacturing when eastern search of cheap labor trump

when eastern search of cheap labor trump

when eastern search of cheap labor trump style and as american first policies are

style and as american first policies are

style and as american first policies are delivered by twitter it’s a form of

delivered by twitter it’s a form of

delivered by twitter it’s a form of media that lacks all reflection in

media that lacks all reflection in

media that lacks all reflection in fact-checking

fact-checking

fact-checking post truth media is linked to the

post truth media is linked to the

post truth media is linked to the earlier concept of sound bite and photo

earlier concept of sound bite and photo

earlier concept of sound bite and photo opportunity it completely bypasses

opportunity it completely bypasses

opportunity it completely bypasses public discussion and the regime of the

public discussion and the regime of the

public discussion and the regime of the 24-hour news cycle there’s no

24-hour news cycle there’s no

24-hour news cycle there’s no opportunity for discussion or argument

opportunity for discussion or argument

opportunity for discussion or argument just a series of empty and and

just a series of empty and and

just a series of empty and and verifiable statements issued in the

verifiable statements issued in the

verifiable statements issued in the deafening echo chamber

deafening echo chamber

deafening echo chamber to medium now fate news is full of

to medium now fate news is full of

to medium now fate news is full of hoaxes misinformation distortion it’s

hoaxes misinformation distortion it’s

hoaxes misinformation distortion it’s published with the intent of deceiving

published with the intent of deceiving

published with the intent of deceiving it takes the big lie to another level as

it takes the big lie to another level as

it takes the big lie to another level as the postmodern art of politics where

the postmodern art of politics where

the postmodern art of politics where believers where supporters believe

believers where supporters believe

believers where supporters believe something only if it agrees with their

something only if it agrees with their

something only if it agrees with their own deep-seated prejudices

own deep-seated prejudices

own deep-seated prejudices welcome to the Flat Earth Society that

welcome to the Flat Earth Society that

welcome to the Flat Earth Society that turns its back on truth so what are we

turns its back on truth so what are we

turns its back on truth so what are we to make of all this well that’s entirely

to make of all this well that’s entirely

to make of all this well that’s entirely up to you but I leave you with this

up to you but I leave you with this

up to you but I leave you with this final thought George Orville said in the

final thought George Orville said in the

final thought George Orville said in the time of deceit telling the truth is a

time of deceit telling the truth is a

time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act

”

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