From: Hal Finney (hal@finney.org)
Date: Mon Jun 16 2003 - 12:15:29 MDT
There's a short answer to the question of why to believe the truth:
Because "the truth shall make you free".
Unfortunately, the people to whom this quote carries authority are often
not interested in pursuing the truth, while those who do seek the truth
won't find the quote very convincing. It is from the Christian Bible, the
Gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 32, attributed to a Jesus of Nazareth.
Nevertheless I think the quote does carry weight in the context of
rational truth-seekers. We seek the truth ultimately to gain freedom:
freedom of action, freedom of knowledge, freedom of opportunity.
Knowing the truth maximizes our options for effective action in the world,
because it allows us to make the most accurate predictions of the effects
of our actions.
Hal
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