How to truth-seek. If seeking truth is important to you, how can you do it better? First, learn to examine the evidence. Observe using your five senses and read about others’ observations and conclusions. This is what scientists do. It’s what judges and juries do. Evidence is different from opinion, which is stating something is correct or incorrect or predicting the future, often with little or no supporting evidence. Evidence is different than an accusation, which is criticism that may or may not come with evidence. Judges, juries, and scientists weigh the amount and quality of the evidence, both supporting and contradictory, before giving an opinion.
The second thing you can do to seek truth is employ skepticism. This is the practice of questioning an opinion, accusation, or other statement until you examine and weigh the evidence. Note the difference between skepticism and cynicism: cynicism assumes a statement (especially a positive or hopeful one) is wrong before weighing the evidence. Skepticism involves critical thinking skills, not just doubting or expressing a contrary opinion. The most important kind of skepticism may be that directed at your own views, including your accusations of others’ bias or dishonesty.
The third thing you can do to seek truth is get help. Like most important things, seeking truth isn’t easy. You might even think it’s over your head. Identify respected experts on both sides of an issue whose writings you can read. Which experts can you trust? Those who are dedicated to truth-seeking as described in this article. Every expert profession has a code of ethics that includes truth-seeking. You can check with licensing organizations, bar associations, media, fact-checkers, etc., to examine evidence about the person’s ethics. Has the person been recognized with awards or honors by their professional colleagues? See if you can engage a well-informed friend, especially one who has an opinion opposite yours, to truth-seek on an issue with you. Remember to be skeptical about your own view and discover its limitations.
Truth-seeking and democracy. Truth-seeking is not only helpful with a person’s individual goals and values, it is essential to democracy. James Madison said, “A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives”. When politicians or other influential people hide or misrepresent the truth they can reduce or steal citizens’ power to govern themselves effectively. Propaganda is a pattern of such political lies.
Another problem in politics is when politicians become dogmatic about their party’s views. This means they have stopped refining and updating those views based on new evidence.
Both dogmatism and lies create major obstacles to consensus and bipartisanship. If compromise merely represents a halfway point between dogmatic views it is unlikely to serve the people well. Truth-seeking represents a much more effective path to compromise. This is the goal of real debates, which rarely occur anymore on political issues. Real debates present evidence for one’s own position and against one’s opponent’s. Modern debates instead seem to focus mostly on trying to make oneself look good and one’s opponent look bad through methods that often have little to do with truth-seeking. More citizen truth-seeking could help to change this.
Value-seeking is also fundamental to democracy, as revealed in statements from the Declaration of Independence. As citizens of a democracy, we commit to continuously strive toward greater fulfillment of the shared set of values reflected in our Constitution. Also, the above view of owned values, freely chosen by individuals, is fundamental to our freedoms of speech and religion. To commit to our Constitution means we accept that others’ owned values will differ from ours.
Conclusions. In 2023, truth-seeking is possible, but more complicated than ever. A veritable flood of information is available on the internet, but well-developed truth-seeking skills are necessary to separate opinion, bias, and propaganda from evidence-based information. We have numerous media outlets but, being run by humans, all are susceptible to bias. One of the ethical obligations of news media is to clearly separate opinion from fact-based news, but this distinction has become hazier. Fact-checking organizations are helpful in evaluating the truth-seeking track record of the media you use. Yes, fact-checkers might be biased, but remember to check your evidence before you conclude this. Do you think they’re biased only because they disagree with your opinion? Another ethical obligation of news media is to publish or broadcast corrections when they make an error. This is a sign of credibility. Check the evidence and the credibility of the source before you pass along news.
Truth-seeking is not only important to our democracy, it is important to our mental health and relationships. Seeking truth builds competence and confidence in handling whatever truth you encounter. It helps you be honest with yourself. It is essential to trusting and close relationships. Hopefully this article has helped you commit more fully to truth-seeking in the things you value in life.