Myths

 

Myths and Conspiracies

I’m puzzled by the prevalence of myths which persist in the face of massive evidence against them. Flat earthers seem to totally disbelieve the evidence of their own eyes in photos of earth taken in the Apollo missions. I suppose they belong to school that thinks the lunar missions a hoax. These beliefs are arguably harmless but American democracy is threatened by the myths put forward about the 2020 election. Trump persists in saying the election was stolen and apparently many people believe him.

The list of bizarre beliefs extends far and wide, the QAnon conspiracy, Bigfoot, ghosts are just a few examples. These beliefs are apparently held in the face of massive evidence.

 WHY?

I have to say straightaway I don’t have an answer. I have been turning this over in my mind for years and the recent American situation has made it seem more urgent. All I can offer are some factors which I think may be part of an answer.

The first is the decline in religious belief. It is surely no co-incidence that many irrational beliefs are held with a religious fervour; in a sense the belief is a substitute. Psychologists observe that humans seem to have a need to believe, to have faith and are bereft without it. It is a though the human psyche has a “ God shaped hole”- if not filled by God then something else must be found.

Public figures have found a way to fame by articulating strongly and forcefully some extreme position. Trump is perhaps the premier example but there are plenty of others such as Bolsanaro in Brazil.  In the UK Farage is a clear example and I’m sure some would include Johnson. As politicians these are often discussed as populists but while they may articulate views held by many they may still be a popular minority. Trump has shown no tendency to broaden his position even where he has lacked majority support.

News media have long held unashamedly biased positions but while relatively objective reporting has declined highly biased media have flourished. I would cite Fox news in the US and the Daily Mail in the UK as examples but there are many, many others. The BBC is often held up as an example of bias free reporting. I find it may be bias free in the topics reported but highly skewed in the topics chosen for coverage. Supposed lack of bias is also shown by reporting the lie with equal prominence as the truth. There are reasonably truthful publications among whom I would cite the Economist. The big virtue of this is that it provides evidence for the reader to make their own view.

Realistic fiction has deliberately tried to blur the line between reality and fantasy. An example would be the X files TV show which was predicated on revealing supposed realties underlying reality. That these underlying realities were in fact fantasies wasn’t part of the story, In general fiction has become ever more apparently realistic so I feel there are people who genuinely cannot tell fact from fantasy. Our simulations are so good that they are difficult to tell apart from the real thing. I had a strong feeling of déjà vu about the video of Perseverance landing on Mars  just because I have seem such good simulations before. I feel sure that many lunar landing sceptics take their view ( probably indirectly ) from Capricorn One, a film about a lunar hoax story.

Reality has become more fantastic. A modern smartphone is a nearly magical device. It was Arthur C Clarke, a science fiction writer, who said any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Much modern technology, particularly micro electronics , is totally beyond the understanding of most of us and thus indistinguishable from magic.

Confidence in the truthfulness of organisations and individuals has declined. Often there were good reasons in the past for dissimulation or even down right lies. An example of a “white” lie was the idea that Vitamin C helps night vision. Put about during WW11 to cover the development of airborne radar; even today when the story is long past there are plenty who swear by eating carrots. On the flip side some trusted people espouse some odd ideas with Trump as prime example.

The role of belief in medical affairs has long been known. The placebo effect is so strong that even such nonsense as Chinese medicine is widely accepted. The irony is that it may well work thanks to belief. Mind can rule over the body. A sort of bastard form of placebo effect seems to work with many in otherwise odd beliefs- I believe so it must be so.- mind over matter

The role of social media must not be underestimated. So many oddball believers find reinforcement by meeting those who agree on virtual media. There is glory in holding a minority belief. The feeling that as a believer you hold the truth and – haha the majority don’t. Being part of an in-group leads to social feeling and also to a certain smugness.

These are some ideas and I’m sure there are others. However myths are to be taken seriously. While say anti-vaxxers mainly harm themselves climate change deniers could destroy humanity.