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Truth and Tribal Epistemology
How do we make up our our version of the truth?
Amid our fake news-filled and post-truth reality, how do we develop a sense of what is “true”? How is it that we can each have multiple versions of truth that can be so separate from fact? For instance, why do some people not believe in climate change, despite all the evidence? How is it possible that Trump supporters truly believe that Jim Acosta actually assaulted that intern?
These questions are likely on lots of people’s minds given our current media and political climate. But if we zoom out beyond our current day to day reality, there are a few factors that can explain this phenomenon which are rooted in fundamental human nature. These factors transcend partisan debates, fake news, and the technology-driven advancements to how we consume and distribute (mis)information.
In short, when it comes to how we develop a sense of what to believe in, there are three basic principles:
- Humans are tribal
- We relate to stories more than facts
- We think like lawyers, not scientists
First, humans are tribal beings, and the dominant way that we construct our truth is through tribal leaders. We believe those tribal leaders more than we believe facts. This explains how climate…
