An incredible amount of information is available in the 21st century to whomever wants to seek it out, yet misinformation runs rampant throughout the world. Apparently, anyone can post anything on the internet -- whether the information is fact or fiction -- and represent it as true, and there seem to be no consequences to the propagation of misinformation.
Nonetheless, the truth is out there -- somewhere! Unfortunately, the dilemma is the time, effort, mental application, and dedication required to find and verify data from the internet and other sources. One has to sift carefully through many sources to have an inkling of what is accurate and what is not.
However, there is plenty of verifiable research available which confirms that facts do not necessarily correct misinformation or disinformation, or change people's minds.
INFORMATION, DISINFORMNATION, AND MALINFORMATION
Although misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation all involve the dissemination of false information, they are not the same thing. All can evoke strong emotions and cause harm, but the distinction is the motivation behind its propagation. ▼ Image Source: images ctfassets.net
The distribution and sharing of incorrect or mis-leading information without malicious intent, such as misinterpretations, rumors, untrue claims of others, etc. Sometimes misinformation is passed on unintentionally or by someone who does not realize the information is incorrect.
Disinformation
Deliberately false information spread purposely with the intent to deceive or manipulate, such as propaganda, political campaigns, false advertising, and images designed to mislead the public. Source: AI Summary - https://search.yahoo.com/
Malinformation
Information is based on truth (although it may be exaggerated or presented out of context) but is shared with the intent to attack an idea, individual, organization, group, country or other entity. source: princetonlibrary.org/
FIRST AMENDMENT / FEEEDOM OF SPEECH
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides comprehensive protection for free speech, including the right to make false statements.
The Supreme Court has ruled that, “The remedy for speech that is false is speech that is true. This is the ordinary course in a free society.” In other words, in a free country, you don’t jail someone for lying — you call them out with the truth. This decision shows that even intentionally making false claims is often protected by the First Amendment.
FALSE INFORMATION FROM OFFICIAL and MEDIA SOURCES
Primary Source: https://www.freedomforum.org/misinformation-vs-disinformation/
“The First Amendment applies only when the government is involved in regulating speech or expression. The First Amendment does not apply to private companies or social media platforms, which have the right to set their own rules about what content is allowed.” freedomforum.org/misinformation ▼Image Source: www.ohchr.org
● There are few legal limits on false or misleading official statements, and they tend to apply when such speech directly violates certain constitutional rights, such as due process or the equal protection clause.
● Social media companies are private companies, so these platforms establish their own content policies, including restrictions on misinformation and disinformation. Crucially, the First Amendment applies only to government actions, not private enterprises such as social media companies.
ESTABLISHING PROOF
According to Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D, “…we humans cannot help but strive for meaning in virtually everything we do…The human brain is built to search for connections everywhere, even in the most random events.” Humans are social animals whose survival has depended on cooperation with others. Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D - psychologytoday.com/search-for-meaning
Thus, we are hardwired by our survival instincts to want proof. To understand why, consider these key reasons:
●Cognitive Bias: Humans are wired to seek confir-mation and avoid uncertainty.
●Trust Building: Proof fosters trust in relationships and information sources.
● Decision Making: Evidence helps in making informed
choices and reducing risks.
● Learning and Growth: Proof enhances understanding and retention of knowledge.
● Social Validation: People often seek proof to align with societal norms and beliefs.
● Fear of Deception: Skepticism drives the need for proof to avoid being misled.
Search.yahoo.com/AI Summary
There Is No Such Thing As “Proof”
Primary Sources: Dr. Leanne J Philip linkedin.com/pulse/why-we-need-prove-things; and
https://evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-8-what-constitutes-proof
There is no such thing as absolute proof because, by definition, there is no room for error when you say something is “proven.” It must be undeniable truth or fact, with 100 percent sureness. Yet current society is constantly demanding “proof” of nearly everything they are told.
“Philosophically, it’s impossible to truly prove anything. The evidence will never be 100 percent infallible for anything, especially regarding the behaviour of the universe....in the scientific world, it is generally not preferable to use these terms [proof] because they imply an absolute result. Doing science means embracing anomalous results and expecting evidence to result from tests. Evidence can be supportive or not, but to say something is scientifically proven is inaccurate and a misnomer.” Dr. Leanne J Philip linkedin.com/pulse/why-we-need-prove-things
Essentially, “proof” is a body of evidence which is “reliable” based on the following building blocks.
● Thorough Research
A literature survey identifying all known resources available, which educate us regarding time and place in question: the times, customs, laws, etc. Then systematically seek out every relevant source.
● Evaluation Of Sources
All sources are not created equal. Physical flaws can affect the reliability of the conclusions we draw from the information in those sources.
● Notetaking And Documentation
Reliable proof is rarely rooted in careless habits. All sources need to be fully identified, following the standards for each type of material.
● Appraisal Of Information
No source can be categorically trusted or arbitrarily dismissed. Instead, identity whether or not source had first- or secondhand knowledge, the purpose for which the source was created. Scrutinize its content for clues as to whether the person had cause for bias or duress.
● Accurate Interpretation
● Appropriate Context
The significance of any piece of information also depends upon the social and economic contexts against which it is appraised -- such as language, laws, literacy, occupation, religious affiliations, etc.—to help to prove or disprove an identity, a relationship, or participation in an event.
● Correlation Of Details
Seek materials that are independently created and look for contradictions between the details.
● Milking Clues
Many of the clues that point to other records and other places of activity are silent ones.
● Critical Analysis Of Evidence
Cull the findings and reduce them down to the most essential pieces that prove our point, considering not only information that directly addresses the topic but also indirect bits and pieces.
Rebuttal Of Contradictory Evidence
Thorough research almost always results in contradictions. A source may offer direct evidence, yet it may be wrong. It may be possible to build a case entirely from indirect evidence to clearly argue that the direct evidence is wrong. But whenever our evidence disagrees, we must logically resolve the discrepancies before our case can be considered “proved.”
Written Proof Argument
A convincing proof argument examines the evidence from each document, discusses the strengths and the weaknesses of each source, and discusses the contradictions identified and how they are reconciled. It will explain how and why, for the given issue, the whole body of evidence points to only one reasonable conclusion.
The Bottom Line
What most people believe as “truth” is based on a preponderance of cogent evidence which supports a hypothesis to a high degree of confidence and is generally accepted by experts and the public, such as the world not being flat. There is ample evidence the earth is not flat, but it is also not round (which many people do believe). The Earth is an oblate spheroid, slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.
“Scientific knowledge [and probably all kinds of knowledge] is provisional and subject to change. Theories are constantly being refined, modified, or even replaced as new evidence emerges.” This willingness to question existing assumptions and revise theories in light of new evidence allows science to progress. clrn.org/can-science-actually-prove-something
THE TRUTH ABOUT FACT AND TRUTH
While in our daily lives, in general conversation, the words “fact” and “truth” are used interchangeably, there is a difference. Not so much grammatically speaking, but philosophically, so let’s look at that.
Fact
● Objective statements that can be verified and “proven”,
● Remain constant regardless of opinions or interpretations.
● The building blocks of knowledge and can be universally
accepted,
● Facts are not discovered or not created; they are simply acknowledged
● A reality that cannot be logically disputed or rejected
Truth
● Often subjective and can be influenced by personal beliefs and perspectives.
● Can vary based on context, culture, and individual experiences.
● Encompasses deeper meanings and can involve moral or philosophical considerations.
● Things that are not simply acknowledged, but must be discovered, or created.
WHY FACTS DON’T CHANGE WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE
Primary Source: https://research.com/education/why-facts-dont-change-our-mind
Judging facts isn't as black-and-white as most of us were taught in grammar school. Humans depend on a set on a biased set of cognitive processes to arrive at a given conclusion or belief. This natural tendency to cherry pick and twist the facts to fit with our existing beliefs is known as motivated reasoning—and we all do it.
Peter Ditto, PhD, a social psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, says, "Motivated reasoning is a pervasive tendency of human cognition. People are capable of being thoughtful and rational, but our wishes, hopes, fears and motivations often tip the scales to make us more likely to accept something as true if it supports what we want to believe…It takes more information to make you believe something you don't want to believe than something you do."
Extensive research gives experts a good grasp on why facts don’t change people’s minds, a much of it has to do with the structure of the brain.
● Structure Of The Brain
Without going into boring detail, here is the bottom line: “Tests demonstrates that holding firm to one’s beliefs activates the pleasure center of the brain…Changing one’s belief stimulates the area of the brain that is triggered by anxiety, fear, or disgust (Gorman & Gorman, 2016)…If you’re wondering why beliefs are so hard to change, it is because we’re hard-wired to feel great about standing our ground.” research.com/education/facts-dont-change-mind
In my way of thinking, this accounts for the following research observations.
● Motivated Reasoning
Humans tend to pick, choose, and twist facts to fit with their existing beliefs.
● Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is one of the many forms of faulty thinking that have been identified by researchers. Humans tend to accept information that supports their beliefs and reject information that contradicts them.
● Myside Bias
While humans are not randomly ready to believe something professed based on slight or uncertain evidence, when presented with someone else’s argument, they will spot the weaknesses immediately and, almost invariably, cannot identify the weaknesses in their own belief. newyorker.com/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds [researchers Mercier and Sperber]
● The Continued Influence Effect
“Humans have a remarkable ability to retain information, but rather than replacing incorrect information, the brain has the propensity to create new memories alongside existing ones.” Thus, when remembering certain information, that can create competing ideas based, one based on the original information and another incorporating the corrected details. Lisa Fazio, psychology professor, Vanderbilt University,
● Belief Perseverance
Faced with new, contradicting information, people are predisposed to hang onto their initial beliefs, even after receiving new information that contradicts those beliefs. This resistant to changing their views affects decision-making despite new evidence, which can lead to biased or flawed decisions.
● Illusion of Explanatory Depth
Most people believe they understand complex issues better than they actually do. When asked to explain these issues, they often reveal gaps in their understanding or get defensive.
● Complexity Avoidance
The human brain prefers simple explanations over complex ones, even if the simple explanations are less accurate. This avoidance can lead to the acceptance of misinformation.
● Emotional Influence on Risk Assessment
A conscious or subconscious evaluation of risk involved in believing information is often influenced by emotions rather than logical, leading to overestimation of small risks and underestimation of significant ones.
● Causality and Ignorance Gap
Humans are uncomfortable with uncertainty, which may lead to perceiving causality where there may only be coincidence. This can result in the formation of false beliefs based on perceived patterns.
TAKE AWAY
No “Proof” Is Adequate If You Choose Not To Believe!
I guess that is why approximately 6% of Americans, particularly those of the younger generation, believe the moon landing was faked. I have read it is 20% but Yahoo Search AI tells me that 6% has remained relatively stable over the years
JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/why-is-it-that-even-proven-facts-cant-change-some-peoples-minds
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds
https://research.com/education/why-facts-dont-change-our-mind
https://www.clrn.org/can-science-actually-prove-something/#google_vignette
https://evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-8-what-constitutes-proof
https://legalknowledgebase.com/how-much-evidence-is-needed-to-prove-something
https://www.freedomforum.org/misinformation-vs-disinformation/
https://princetonlibrary.org/guides/misinformation-disinformation-malinformation-a-guide/
https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/77/is-there-such-a-thing-as-absolute-proof
https://www.engram.us/vs/322/evidence-vs-proof
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-is-a-human/202405/why-our-brains-are-built-to-search-for-meaning
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/why-we-need-answers
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/05/alternative-facts
https://search.yahoo.com/ - AI Summary
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-we-need-prove-things-our-society-dr-leanne-j-philip/
https://commonslibrary.org/disinformation-vs-misinformation-definitions-types/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/11/22/scientific-proof-is-a-myth/
https://grammarhow.com/proof-vs-evidence/
https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/news/why-conspiracies-are-so-popular-and-what-we-can-do-stop-them
https://botpenguin.com/glossary/moments-of-truth
https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/difference-between-fact-and-truth#:~:text=Facts%20are%20not%20discovered%2C%20facts%20are%20not%20created%2C,simply%20acknowledged%2C%20but%20must%20be%20discovered%2C%20or%20created.
□
RSS Feed