Where Does Truth Stand Today?
I think this SINNer is protesting too much. Self-identifying non-neuroticism is probably not in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition — yet. But as the saying goes, it takes one to know one, or, it’s the pot calling the kettle black . . .
Caplan points to the two tribes, left and right activists. They both use sadness, anger and fear to try and sway some reform or change. Both try to evoke guilt as a method to work for change.
There’s another way that’s going the rounds in expressing polarities of thought — authoritarian or libertarian — either of which also tries to evoke guilt in persuading others to their side.
But Caplan belongs to a tribe that claims objective truths and evidence-backed research to bolster their field. But, here again, there is no agreement. The famous quote by George Bernard Shaw still holds — "If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion."
Thankfully we live in our Western cultures, which allow competition of ideas to flourish and for surprises (Brexit/Trump effect) to happen.
Thanks for the opinion-piece, Bryan Caplan, and hopefully we can grapple more effectively in this, our post-truth world. In case it’s not widely know, Oxford Dictionary has just proclaimed “post-truth” as the word of the year and perhaps the defining word of our time!
https://www.theguardian.com/bo…
[comment to FEE — Bryan Caplan — How Neurotic People Abuse The News}