Truth in the Age of Truth Social
One of my favourite humanist quotations comes from the philosopher, Harold Blackham, ‘Humanism is about the world, not about Humanism’. As you’ll see if you click on that link, Blackham was ‘the architect of the modern humanist movement, and a decades-long champion of humanist values on national and international levels’, so I think he’d have approved of our choice of subject,
The Elusive Nature of Truth
Our conversation centred on the difficulty of discerning truth in today’s world, especially in the context of media, politics, and social discourse. There was shared concern over the erosion of trust in traditional sources of information and a consensus on the increasing importance of critical thinking.
Opening Discussion: Truth in Politics and Media
- Tim began by comparing current political distortions to Orwell’s Newspeak, referencing Truth Social and Pravda as ironic misuses of the word “truth.” He aloso raised concerns about recent BBC censorship controversies regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, noting how even once-trusted institutions feel compromised.
- Bruce offered historical perspective, noting that media bias isn’t new, recalling how the BBC was viewed as biased during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. He argued that truth has always been somewhat relative.
- Susan highlighted how media outlets manipulate images and narratives, asking who we can trust and how we evaluate competing claims.
- Dawn noted the emergence of terms like ‘my truth’ and ‘your truth’ which seem to have come from social media, and which contribute to the idea that there are multiple truths, according to perception.
- Richard brought up the common experience of reading articles on familiar subjects and spotting numerous errors—contrasting that with uncritical acceptance of unfamiliar topics. He stressed the need for active critical thinking.
- Mike reflected on his childhood belief in the impartiality of outlets like the BBC and The Guardian, contrasting that with The Sun’s sensationalism, especially in its contradictory treatment of Maradona in the 1980s. He suggested that truth hasn’t just been obscured—it’s been devalued in favour of ratings and virality, especially in the age of social media.
Fabrication in Culture: The Salt Path
The discussion turned to The Salt Path, a book and film exposed as partly fictionalized.
- Richard saw this as a case where the truth is ambiguous, possibly due to ignorance or complicity by the filmmakers.
- Mike tied it to a broader trend where fabrication is now tolerated as long as it’s compelling.
Truth as a Collective Endeavor
- Drawing from Julian Baggini, the group discussed the idea that truth-seeking must be a shared, social process.
- Mike countered this, pointing to how AI and media now amplify misinformation.
- Richard highlighted the importance of education in teaching critical analysis, citing a former Microsoft executive who warned that information alone isn’t enough—it must be processed wisely.
- He introduced the term “truthiness”—information that feels true because it fits our beliefs.
- Tim noted that humanists encourage scepticism, including scepticism of one’s own biases, emphasizing intellectual humility.
Political Truth and Accountability
- Tim brought up Trump’s attacks on journalist Natasha Bertrand, suggesting that being attacked by power can be a mark of truth-telling.
- Mike expanded on that, referencing the weather-related tragedies in Texas and arguing that truth eventually reveals itself, even if delayed by political obfuscation.
The Role of Community
- As the meeting drew to a close, Tim and others reflected on the format and value of these discussions.
- Bruce expressed discomfort with filtering out disagreeable views on social media, noting the danger of ideological bubbles.
- Tim agreed, adding that community must allow for disagreement. He cited Baggini again, noting that building non-religious communities is one of humanism’s key challenges.
- Richard concluded by proposing that this question—how to build community—should be the topic of the next meeting.
Next Meeting Topic:
“How to Build a Humanist Community” – a continuation of the broader discussion on truth, trust, and collective understanding will be at 6.30 pm on Monday 21st July – we hope to see you there!
