A Clarification

[poliphilo]

"And what they're running scared of is the truth."

That was a glib formulation. Or else shorthand.  Because "What is Truth? said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an answer". None of us knows what the truth is. And if it came down the pike today we wouldn't recognise it.

Perhaps I should have written not "the truth" but "the quest for truth" or something like that. What fanatics of either or any party are turning their backs on is the need for painful thought, research and the sort of debate that actually listens to the opposition.  I can understand why they get into that sclerotic condition; it's horrible to be in a state of doubt. But being in a state of doubt is the human condition.

The scientific method, the philosophical method- I think one might add the theological method- is to take a proposition and test it and test it and test it to destruction. If it survives all one's best assaults it acquires the status of a provisional truth.

This is how humankind inches forward. How it becomes better informed, wiser, more moral. The person who insists his "truth" is inviolable is standing in the way of this process.

Faith isn't knowledge, nor is scientific fact ever anything more than a working hypothesis. We know what we know, but we don't know what we don't know. At any time a new truth- one of Dick Cheyney's "unknown unknowns"- could cross the boundary and knock all our certainties skew-whiff. 

Comments

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

This is probably a bit harsh, but from what I've seen of Palin so far, I suspect she accepts the silly stuff as part of the greater narrative of her own exceptionalism, the cherished belief that God lies awake at night fretting over her. She really does seem to believe that she's qualified to assume the helm of a nuclear power, despite the fact that Palin, to most rational observers, possesses no obvious qualifications whatsoever. You see, it's all just some mysterious part of the Almighty's grand and inscrutable design.

I see this same kind of exceptionalism in Bush and it's proved disastrous. Instead of coming to grips with the realities of this world, or making an honest attempt, or even recognizing the need to do so, he retreats into the belief that God has made His will plain to the one He's chosen to lead this country. Problem solved.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You could well be right. But I'm hoping Palin will turn out to be smarter than Bush- and will make an effort to learn...

Bush is a dynastic president. He got where he is because he's the designated heir of a very powerful family. Palin- I'm assuming- has no such privilege of birth and has got where she is by her own efforts- and a certain ammount of outrageous luck.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

Palin may well be smarter than Bush. It certainly wouldn't be too terribly difficult. Since she's an empty vessel, I'm sure she will learn quickly. Sarah is already spouting neocon cant as if it were gospel.

Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, was the heir apparent of the dynasty. "W" sort of fell into the presidency by accident more than family design. While the name was certainly used to his campaign's advantage, there's little indication that Bush carried on the family's traditions or policies.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

'...hoping Palin ...will make an effort to learn."
I wonder - do you think McCain is going to win this election? That would be disaster. We cannot stand another four years of Republican policies in this country.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've absolutely no idea who's going to win.

Of course, if McCain loses, Palin's personal belief system ceases to matter to anyone except herself- and, I suppose, the voters of Alaska.