Observation and Correlation are not Explanatory Science
Mendaciology Provides a Scientific View
Ann, This a nice survey of what some random observational studies have found, combined with a lot of vague explanations.
Scientifically, a lie to one person is often a truth to another. This isn't optional. It is always necessarily, and scientifically, true.
The result is that fiat lies, suspected lies for which dialogue is infeasible for any reason whatsover, are fundamentally dangerous to modern humankind. And ..
This science goes back 400 years, just after the printing press had essentially done the same damage on human societies recently done by digital media, not the last few years.
Humankind has solved these problems already. As you recognize, people need some education, but the article above explains the why of this.
The role of dialogue in resolving points of view on the truth is not just useful, as you noted, it is the only way possible. There is no magic drug or magic place in the brain to fix it. You fix it with human, natural language, dialogue, as humans have always done. (This is not to say you cannot make someone a chemical zombie and “solve” the brain problem that way. But that would not be any more scientific than just killing him.)
George Washington said this in Presidential Farewell Address prepared specifically for us today based on ideas from the Renaissance, the Age of Reason, the Age of Enlightenment, working out the same problems. Our country and much of our world today is based on this proven science.
George Washington said correctly, as you said, that faction and party are not escapable. To quote Geo. Washington directly:
“The domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.
This leads to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual.
Sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.” (1797AD).
Most everybody doesn’t notice but the three branches of government each mandate a different kind of human natural language dialogue. The judiciary is dialogue structured in courts, the congress in groups passing laws, and the executive in dialogue directly with the people (or voters). This was understood and has sadly, I think, been forgotten.
Here is an article I wrote this morning on some political lies of interest today that speaks to how truth and lies work scientifically, and what we can do about it.
