Written by: Eric Deeter, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
"It’s easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled."
This quote has been attributed to Mark Twain. The irony is that there are no references showing Mark Twain saying these words. And yet the uninformed continue to credit him with this proverb.
Although Mark Twain never said these exact words, he did talk about this tendency we all have to protect what we believe to be true. In 1906 he published an essay called, “What is Man?”, where he says that those who look for Truth tend to develop a system of beliefs they think to be true and then spend their lives defending the “Truth” they know.
In practice, we reject all evidence that might question what we “know” to be true.
I remember a scene from Star Trek: The Motion Picture in which Captain Kirk and his crew are trying to convince a sentient AI that humans had created it. The AI was the fictional satellite, V’ger (Voyager 6), that NASA sent exploring out beyond our solar system. V’ger couldn’t conceive the idea that “less-intelligent” humans were its creator. When the crew of the Enterprise sent the code to prove the truth, V’ger disabled its data connection to keep from having to face the truth.
The established defenders of truth use threats, intimidation, and sanctions to keep the status quo. The confrontation between Galileo and the Catholic church is a good example. Galileo complained that the philosophers who opposed him refused to even look through the telescope. And, his idea that the earth revolves around the sun was labeled heresy by the church and he was forced, in pain of death, to recant his observations. It is said that he mumbled under his breath, “And yet it moves,” as he recanted.
Galileo is held up as an example of how the enlightenment of science triumphed over the superstition and power of religion. But some look at the history of science and find that scientists haven’t done much better when new evidence shakes the foundation of old theories.
Max Planck wrote in 1950:
“An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out, and that the growing generation is familiarized with the ideas from the beginning...”
All of us face a human tendency for what psychologists call “confirmation bias.” We believe any evidence that confirms what we believe to be true. And we question the validity of any evidence that contradicts what we believe. Furthermore, a good number of people go so far as to shut down, shame, shun, and belittle any person who holds contrary opinions.
There is a sense of security in knowing that “I’m right” in what I believe. And I don’t want to hear your questions or contrary opinions because I don’t want to leave the security of what I “know.” The problem you face is that your mind becomes a prison. You may be right. But you may be fooled. And no one can convince you that you’ve been fooled.
You can stop reading now if you are comfortable with what you “know.” But, if you’re like me, you’re not satisfied with the false security of “knowing” you’re right. The question for us is this: How do you question “truth” without ending up like the Flat Earth Society?
The following suggestions come from my own journey. They have been effective in keeping me on a path to personal growth.
First, put down your anchor. This is a truth that you will hold as your starting point. Your anchor truth is one that you have examined and consider solid. Your anchor truth is not blind faith. It is not beyond question. But it should be a truth about which you have resolved your questions to your satisfaction. My anchor truth is this: God created all there is in this universe. All power that is used by human or spiritual beings originates within God.
Once you have your anchor, start asking questions. Question what you think you know. Question what you “know for sure.” Question what you’ve been told. You’ll find you’re right about a lot of things. But you’ll discover areas of doubt too. When you find those areas of doubt you may discover new truths. Or you may find you have to hold your original beliefs a little looser than before.
Next move on to the “experts.” These are the people who you tend to believe because of their status or education. Start by reminding yourself that experts can be wrong. In fact, you can likely find other experts with similar credentials who disagree with your experts. Remember your tendency for confirmation bias. You will tend to believe your favorite experts more than those who contradict them. Take a step back and consider that every expert has a bias and very likely also has an agenda.
Finally, take time to listen to opinions that contradict your beliefs. I’m not talking about the polite kind of listening where you smile and nod your head while your inner voice tells you this person is an idiot. Consider the opinions you disagree with. The people who believe those opinions do so for a reason. Perhaps they were fooled. But you are likely to be fooled as well if you reject any idea that doesn't fit your narrative of truth.
Journalist Norman Angell wrote in 1927: “...
It’s easier to bamboozle than to debamboozle.”
But if you are going to keep from getting stuck in a mental prison of your own making, you must learn how to “debamboozle” yourself. The song by The Who – ”We Won’t Get Fooled Again” – is overly optimistic. But if you follow these steps you are less likely to remain fooled.
Eric Deeter, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Eric Deeter is an entrepreneur, published author, certified life coach, podcaster, and barefoot/minimalist ultramarathon runner. He says that the mindset for life transformation and the mindset for ultramarathon running is the same. A goal that seems impossible at first becomes a reasonable challenge to work towards. He helps his clients discover and go after their EPIC THING: that big dream or goal they have put away in the back corner of their minds.
