Thanks for joining me.

I am reluctantly considering the conclusion that much of what I have believed for as long as I have believed anything may represent far more hope than truth. Sure, I admit to taking it for granted that things actually are the way I have always thought they are, that my reality is valid and based on the true and factual, and that my sense of what’s real is correct and axiomatic. Naive? Simple-minded? Perhaps dangerous? Indeed. But nonetheless, I believed.

I take some comfort in knowing that a preference for belief over thoughtful consideration didn’t just start with me. The Roman philosopher Seneca observed that “Every man prefers belief to the exercise of judgment.” It’s likely that the “exercise” part of exercising judgment is the showstopper for many, if not most of us. For me at least, it has been easier to relax and believe.

Let me share a story that struggles with knowing truth from opinion, fact from belief. It gets at something important, I think.

1: A Discussion of Ideas

George had been retired for many years and was, by all accounts, set in his ways and beliefs. His daughters had asked him to discuss his views and outlook with them, hoping to gain a better understanding of him as a person and the experiences that had formed him. Youngsters, they argued, may not know what life was like when their father was in his prime, and they argued it was worthwhile for him to impart his wisdom.

The conversation began with George sharing his thoughts on a range of topics, from money management and world politics, to hard work and the purpose of life. He had very strong opinions and was keen for his daughters to take them on board and learn from them. However, the girls didn’t always agree and often challenged him, proposing their own ideas which didn’t always match up with his.

The discussion continued, with the subject matter becoming increasingly complex. However, one thing was becoming increasingly clear: George and his daughters were getting tangled up in trying to identify which elements of their respective beliefs and outlooks were true verses those which were not. They both seemed unable to distinguish fact from opinion and thus the conversation began to deadlock.

It was at this point someone made an interesting suggestion: why not agree to a way of telling true ideas from false ones? By finding a way to distinguish between belief and fact, hope was the conversation could begin to progress. Immediately, a spark of curiosity was kindled, as it dawned on all of them that this could be a fantastic experiment.

George and his daughters agreed to sit down at a later date to devise a way of identifying which ideas and notions were true and those which were not.

If I may interrupt,

Robert Brault got it right when he pointed out that “An old belief is like an old shoe. We so value its comfort that we fail to notice the hole in it.” To my surprise and disappointment, I am starting to notice cracks if not actual holes in some of my most trusted beliefs. The cause and solution may be as simple as E D Martin suggests, “It is easier to believe than to doubt.”

Laziness? Indifference? Bertrand Russell says it’s our inherent credulity. “Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones.” Perhaps I should add gullibility to lazy and naive. The picture is not looking good.

The pragmatist in me is calling out for attention. He or perhaps she is arguing that belief is not the issue. The issue is whether my unique collection of notions and ideas about how things are and how they work are serving me, furthering my interests. Admittedly, this is a rather pedestrian perspective; but if it works for me, I see little need to reason otherwise. If I may lean on Robert Brault again, “Sometimes you believe a thing that isn’t true because in the world you wish to live in, it would be true.” In the world I prefer, the way I arrange the pieces and parts, notions and ideas is reality, is worthy of belief.

Ok, I’ll get back to our story.

2: The Experiment Begins

A few weeks had passed since George and his daughters had agreed to embark on their experiment. They had spent countless hours brainstorming and researching different methods to distinguish fact from belief, truth from opinion.

Finally, they had settled on a plan that seemed both practical and insightful.

The family gathered around the dining table, armed with notebooks, pens, and a sense of anticipation. They had decided to create a series of scenarios, each designed to test the validity of their beliefs and ideas. The goal was to objectively evaluate the evidence and come to a consensus on what was true and what was merely a matter of personal belief.

Their first scenario revolved around the topic of money management, an area where George held strong convictions. He believed that investing in real estate was the most secure and profitable way to grow one’s wealth. His daughters, on the other hand, argued that investing in the stock market could yield higher returns. To settle the debate, they decided to conduct a comparative analysis.

They each invested a sum of money, with George purchasing a property and his daughters investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks. Over the course of a year, they meticulously tracked their investments, recording every gain and loss. At the end of the experiment, they analyzed the data together.

To their surprise, the results were inconclusive. George’s property had appreciated in value, but the stock market had also experienced significant gains. It became evident that both approaches had their merits, and the notion of a single “correct” way to manage money was subjective.

Undeterred, they moved on to their next scenario, this time focusing on world politics. George firmly believed that a strong military was essential for maintaining peace and stability in the world. His daughters, however, argued that diplomacy and international cooperation were more effective

in resolving conflicts.

To test their theories, they decided to examine historical events where military intervention and diplomatic negotiations had been employed. They researched case studies, analyzed the outcomes, and engaged in passionate debates. Yet again, they found that the truth was not black and white.

While military intervention had sometimes achieved short- term objectives, it often resulted in long-lasting consequences and unintended collateral damage. On the other hand, diplomatic negotiations had successfully resolved conflicts, but they required patience, compromise, and a willingness to listen to opposing viewpoints.

As they delved deeper into their experiment, George and his daughters realized that their initial goal of distinguishing fact from belief was overly simplistic. They began to understand that truth was multifaceted, influenced by a myriad of factors such as personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, and individual perspectives.

With each scenario, their discussions became more nuanced and insightful. They started to appreciate the value of diverse viewpoints and the importance of empathy in understanding

others. The experiment had not only challenged their preconceived notions but also fostered a deeper connection between them.

Excited by their progress, they eagerly looked forward to the next chapter of their experiment, ready to delve further into the intricacies of life, living, and getting along with people.

They had come to understand that the journey itself was as valuable as any destination, and that true understanding could only be achieved through open-mindedness, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge their own beliefs.

I’m interrupting again.

Our being willing to challenge our own beliefs is probably a virtue of sorts; but as self-centered and self-serving as my pragmatic self prefers being, I suspect that I’m not alone with my pragmatism. And therein lies the problem, the crack in my carefully cultivated system of beliefs. If all of us adopt this “Me first” approach to life and living, we quickly find ourselves in a pseudo-Darwinian video game where only the most ruthless survive. Me has precedence over us, person has precedence over people, power has precedence over weakness, will has precedence over law, interests have precedence over values, and the winners take all. – Back to our story.

Chapter 3: The Power of Perspective

The Experiment had opened George’s eyes to the complexities of truth and belief. He had always been a man of conviction, confident in his own ideas and resistant to change. But as he embarked on this journey with his daughters, he began to realize that there was more to life than his own narrow perspective.

The next scenario they decided to explore was the purpose of life. George had always believed that the purpose of life was to work hard, accumulate wealth, and leave a legacy behind. His daughters, however, challenged this notion, arguing that the purpose of life was to find happiness and fulfillment, regardless of material success.

To test their theories, they each embarked on a personal journey of self-discovery. George threw himself into various projects, working tirelessly to achieve his goals. His daughters, on the other hand, focused on cultivating meaningful relationships, pursuing their passions, and finding joy in everyday moments.

As they shared their experiences, it became evident that both approaches had their merits. George had achi