Chapter 9
Influencers: Truth Tellers and Liars
For
the sake of this book, I am repurposing the word “Influencers” and using it in
its original, literal meaning “those who influence us,” rather than in the
modern term for online personalities. Influencers include all humans, past and
present, whose output of information is our input. Three hundred
thousand years ago, information among humans was passed primarily by word of mouth. Fast forward to today, we have vast libraries of books (now digitized and at our fingertips on smartphones) containing wisdom spanning ages.
We have input about current affairs and the latest scientific discoveries via
TV, radio, podcasts, and social media, authored by a range of people - from
friends we trust to charlatans we may or may not trust. Looking at the Human
Nature Process graphic, we see that the three inputs to our Body-Mind are
Reality, Influencers, and Experience (the last of which we will discuss at the
end of Part II). A strong case could be made that the behavior of most humans
is more driven by influencers than Reality.
On
the side of caution, we recognize that Influencers were and are subject to the
same Human Nature processes (and fallibilities) we are. On the positive side, civilization would be
impossible without Influencers. It is through person-to-person information
sharing that our species has advanced. Setting aside judgments, for now, of
whether this has been a good or bad thing for the world, the human capacity for
sharing information has been a boon for our species. It has given us dominance
over the Earth.
The
issue we are addressing in this - dare I say – “influential book” is the
quality of information being passed. If
we are basing our knowledge and beliefs on lies, there will be a price to be
paid in the quality of our behaviors. Humans are adept liars. That capacity is
part of our bag of tricks for survival. We lie because it is in our vested
interests and are lied to by others because it is in theirs. Another person’s attempts
to survive could place us at our greatest risk. Picture a drowning person, pushing
us under to stay afloat.
Lying
influencers don’t merely tell untruths; they omit facts. A withheld truth is
lying’s first cousin. In the chapter “Vetting our Influencers,” we will share
techniques for separating information wheat from chaff and for being more
trustworthy influencers ourselves. But for now, let’s address the key question
– “How reliable are Influencers?”
Most
influencers are only partially reliable, and their information almost never
maps perfectly into reality. Here are reasons why:
· Influencers are human, and all humans
are fallible
· Influencers only teach what they
themselves perceive. Their perceptions are likely as flawed as our own.
· Ancient wisdom may be psychologically
true, but rarely scientifically true.
· Modern voices may be factually better
informed but emotionally or politically biased.
· The goal of the influencer often shapes
the content of their information more than their commitment to accuracy.
· Influencers are moderately reliable in
domains supported by evidence from science and empirical observations.
· Influencers are least reliable when
discussing metaphysics, tribal enemies, political virtues, historical myths,
and existential claims.