If A Tree Falls in the Forest

And no one hears it - does it make a sound? 

Purportedly, some centuries ago, philosopher George Berkeley posed this question.  The thrust is to weigh whether reality is something outside of human perception, or, whether all that really exists is what we perceive to exist. 

As I read this post by my friend, Professor Keith Burgess-Jackson, I could not help but be reminded of subjective idealism.

I agree with those in Professor Burgess-Jackson's post who slam Politifact for its analysis about Obamacare.  Nevertheless, I know some of the people who work at Politifact, through the Poynter Institute.  These people are not stupid and they are not dishonest.  I am certain that they believe what they write.

If they are wrong, then how is this possible?

Somewhat similarly to Berkeley's "if I perceive it, it exists", I think that many of us have difficulty escaping our own view of how the world is, and thus perceive data through it - rather than being able to view it as it really is.  During seminars at Poynter, almost every participant was not so much "left leaning" but "how much left leaning"!  On issues where I was a skeptic, like man made global warming for example, virtually all there accepted this as reality, plain and simple.  Those who discounted the science of man made global warming were no different than the "flat earth" society people.

In the same vein, people with this world view are utterly convinced of the goodness and righteousness of government mandated and controlled health care.  So, what those of us who are skeptics of the efficacy of such a plan see, is invisible to its followers. 

What is the solution to such closed-mindedness?  Are there solutions?

I'm not really certain if ultimately there are solutions.  To my way of thinking, however, the best chance is for more people to strive to really open their eyes and listen to those with opposing viewpoints.  While at Poynter, although I liked and enjoyed meeting many of the other people in my seminars, I found that I was almost all alone on many issues with my viewpoints.  This does not make for an open and honest marketplace of ideas when one voice attempts to counter 25 others who see the world in another manner. 

Please understand.  This is not an "I'm correct and they are wrong" post.  This is supposed to be a post on how difficult it is to view data and reasoning outside of our own world view - whether we are left, right, etc.

I think that the Politifact people believe they are doing accurate and good work.  In my opinion, they would do far better if they armed themselves with more people who had disparate world views.

Actually - so would we all.

Comments

[steve walsh]

The presence of people, in any group, with differing points of view is insufficient to arrive at truth. Equally important is a personal commitment to seriously consider points of view that are different than one's own. Actually, I think this may be most important.

The evidence is that we all are given to holding and defending our point of view, regardless of any newly introduced facts. If my experience is at all typical it is that it is very difficult, and requires constant vigilance to be open minded.

Embracing a commitment to finding truth is the foundational ideal, ideology is anathema to this commitment as it requires exclusion of conflicting ideas and facts.

[Peg]

Steve, if I was not clear that being exposed to varying ideas and the arguments for them is only a necessary, yet not sufficient condition for seeking truth, my apologies. I completely agree that we must strive to not just hear opposing views, but be willing to analyze the arguments in favor of them and, toughest of all, be open minded.

No matter your views, good exercises for all of us.

[steve walsh]

Yes, I understood that, but wanted to emphasize what I see as the difficulty. People throw around the phrase "open mind" without understanding, as I think you do, what it means. In my experience it is difficult, and rare, for people to have an open mind such that they are willing to subjugate their point of view, even briefly, to the goal of truth finding. Too many of us believe we already understand the truth and so are unwilling to open our mind to an alternate idea.