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> only those who are fooled once are less likely be to fooled again True, but in this unfolding scenario of truth becomes extraordinarily difficult to impossib

> only those who are fooled once are less likely be to fooled again True, but in this unfolding scenario of truth becomes extraordinarily difficult to impossible to determine, there is no option of not being fooled again. The only lesson learned is that all information is suspect. What remains from there is simply not participating in the game at all. Not sure how that works out. Nonetheless, for a "stable" society it doesn't really require absolute truth, but just the belief there is a common truth. It may be the case that somehow institutions are still able to present this illusion in enough of a convincing manner that there isn't a total breakdown. I suppose another option is that nobody cares about truth as long as their perceived needs are met. As they are happy in their gilded cage so long as it remains nicely gilded. I suppose this is nothing new. Not a new trick of society. Just the question how long can it hold up under worsening conditions.

hotpotamus 3y ago
Nietzsche was onto this impressively early in modernity with the Death of God. > The last man is the archetypal passive nihilist. He is tired of life, takes no risks, and seeks only comfort and security. I don't really see any alternative myself.
- 13years 3y ago
  Indeed. In nature we have observed social behavioral traps like the ants circle of death. On a more complex and longer timescale, I wonder if humans have entered their own such trap.
hunglee2 3y ago
> The only lesson learned is that all information is suspect. This is the only reality we can trust. I cannot help but think the anxiety we feel about truthlessness is rooted in the Abrahamic tradition, which promised the end to ambiguity, because clearly this is The Truth. I seek some solace in the Eastern tradition, where the first step toward knowledge is acceptance of unknowing. It is true that Buddhists do indeed tend to 'check out' of society, which I do not agree with, but I think we can learn something from how they handle ambiguity of reality.

hotpotamus 3y ago

Nietzsche was onto this impressively early in modernity with the Death of God. > The last man is the archetypal passive nihilist. He is tired of life, takes no risks, and seeks only comfort and security. I don't really see any alternative myself.

13years 3y ago
Indeed. In nature we have observed social behavioral traps like the ants circle of death. On a more complex and longer timescale, I wonder if humans have entered their own such trap.

hunglee2 3y ago

> The only lesson learned is that all information is suspect. This is the only reality we can trust. I cannot help but think the anxiety we feel about truthlessness is rooted in the Abrahamic tradition, which promised the end to ambiguity, because clearly this is The Truth. I seek some solace in the Eastern tradition, where the first step toward knowledge is acceptance of unknowing. It is true that Buddhists do indeed tend to 'check out' of society, which I do not agree with, but I think we can learn something from how they handle ambiguity of reality.