Myths, opinions and reality

While we could be living in "The Matrix" where nothing is real, for a moment lets take off our philosopher's hat and assume that what we see is what we get, that the world actually exists. Then, we can say that things are either inherently true, opinions or myths.

Inherently true things

Mathematics is true. It makes no difference how you slice it, 1+1=2. Certain laws of physics and chemistry seem also to be true, based on observation. Biological science has some truths, but much of the detailed truths still need to be worked out.

Opinions

These are things which honest people can have different takes on. Usually, these take the form of opinions about quality, goodness, likability, value, and so forth. These often have "facts" to back them up, but facts are not always inherently true things. Opinions often rely on biases, points of view, and unrelated things floating in our brains, often beneath our consciousness or present only as partial emotional impressions based on partially and incompletely remembered past experiences. Opinions are not reality.

Myths

Myths are pseudoreality. They are mass opinions. Some examples: countries; God; value systems; the scientific method; equality; fairness; justice. Myths exist to help us deal with the world. They are not truly reality, but only common opinions.

These concepts are important in understanding, among other things, the Middle East conflicts around Israel.

1. Does Israel have the right to exist? No more or less than any other country. All countries are myths. Any argument about "occupied land" is applicable to every spot on earth. Israel's right to exist within whatever borders it currently has is exactly the same as any other country. One can apply one myth to another myth (ie, the Middle East is the land of the Muslim), but that is just plain silly.

2. Does Israel have the right to defend its borders and its people? No more or less than any other country, which is to say by any means necessary.

3. What about international law? If you check above, you will see that this is also a myth. Law is an application of a value system, and value systems are myths.

4. Is there anything about people interacting with people that is true? The answer seems to be yes, but this enters the field of experimental psychology, which is still at an early stage. From what can be seen so far, it may be possible to move politics, religion, and values eventually into the realm of true reality. Just as there is a law of gravity there may be laws that apply to land disputes or more specifically, how people can optimize their happiness and minimize suffering and conflict. What is known for certain is that the reflex opinion-based simple solutions are not correct. Pacifists have not prevented wars; welfare has not prevented poverty; love has not eliminated hate.

DocBrain finds it somewhat depressing to see people accepting that some things are unknowable so we must operate from the world of opinion. At least, we should develop universal myths to tide us over until we get a better understanding of reality. But that is just an opinion.