Translated by: Rik Delaet checked by Axel Saffran
What if false beliefs make us happy?
We all know that truth can sometimes be uncomfortable,
or offensive or disturbing.
That means
we must choose to believe in some comforting falsehoods,
if we feel better?
Today, I want to make a plea for the truth,
the cold and unvarnished truth.
I will try to convince you
that whatever happens, the truth is always better.
Of course I realize that you
which already believe in many ways.
We love the truth.
So we are very upset about the proliferation of fake news’
the popularity of conspiracy theories.
We balk at the notion of alternative facts’
because of course we realize that there is only one truth.
And we get angry
when politicians try to tell us blatant lies.
The word “post-truth ‘was chosen as Word of the Year
by Oxford Dictionaries,
and this shows that many people the value of truth
will return to its rightful place in society –
which of course is a good thing, and I welcome that.
But we really cherish the truth in our daily lives?
Whether we live in our own post-truth world,
our own post-truth universe?
Sometimes when I give lectures on this subject,
I do a sample by way of a show of hands.
I will not do that today, because it is surprising to this
that regardless of the age and background of the audience,
I always more or less get the same results.
So it is easy to predict.
I explain to people this dilemma:
do you think we all need to illusions to life?
We all need illusions to be happy?
Or do you think the truth anyway always better?
And so it appears that
a large majority of people, but not overwhelming,
believes that we need to illusions to life.
That, to be happy, all
which require little silliness to reality some gilding,
because the reality in its full weight is simply unbearable.
People have a kind of pragmatic attitude toward the truth.
Of course, they say,
his true beliefs often useful to achieve goals in life,
but why do we have so insist on the truth?
What exactly is so great about the truth?
And if it is true that sometimes the truth can hurt,
why should we the illusions of other people want to pierce?
Why would we want to spoil it for them?
This concerns me personally
because I am involved in the skeptical movement
here in Flanders.
Skeptics investigate various irrational and strange beliefs,
pseudowetenschap, conspiracy theory, etc.
I even have a book about it with my supervisor,
we play the role of Doubting Thomas
and evidence requirements for all kinds of ideas.
Every time we come to the conclusion
that there really is no good scientific evidence for these beliefs,
I mention a few:
creationism, telepathy, conspiracy theories,
homeopathy, faith in the afterlife.
Now, even if we are right,
that these beliefs are irrational,
we should still not forget to stop
or maybe people do not benefit from these illusions?
If that is true,
was it from us not reckless and wanton act
to take them off these illusions?
We are not kind pretbedervers?
Good…
I did some soul-searching when I realized
maybe we had harmed
people by depriving them of their illusions.
I found solace in the wisdom of playwright George Bernard Shaw.
Who wrote: “The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic
does no more relevant
then the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober. “
Phew!
Well that was it. We can go home.
Everything is fine.
I know I do so not to worry
about taking away illusions.
Well, not so fast.
So we make it a bit too easy for ourselves with this short corner.
Of course I think it is important that drunk people are happy.
But this is not the only thing we have to keep in mind
when we talk about alcohol.
We know that alcohol has advantages and disadvantages,
or as the great philosopher Homer Simpson once put it:
“On alcohol!
The cause of – and solution to – all of life’s problems! “
I think we should apply the same kind of utility calculations
positive illusions, misconceptions favorably.
So, the truth is always better?
You can word truth here
fill in the broadest possible sense.
It can be about the truth that the universe is expanding
and that everything goes to the dogs,
or that we are all mortal
and thus will die ever;
or very simple personal truths about our personal lives.
Now, if you ask people –
the group of people who are convinced
we all need some illusions to survive and be happy –
if you ask them what beliefs can be beneficial,
although they are false,
you get this kind of answer:
Believe in God?
For example enlighten our existential fears.
Or what about the belief in reincarnation?
Maybe it works even better than believe in the ‘normal’ life after death.
Or perhaps the belief in a communist utopia.
That could also make us happy or good for society.
Not so sure of it.
The belief in homeopathy?
It may be completely false pseudo-scientific and,
but maybe you have something to placebo effects,
if you think it works.
Or faith in yourself?
The so-called “positive illusions.”
I’m going to focus on that positive illusions
because they are the best and most plausible candidate to me
for which we are looking for, namely soothing illusions.
There’s a lot of good, solid scientific evidence
the claim that positive illusions are favorable.
Psychologists have found
we are all prone to overconfidence.
We all overestimate our own abilities and talents.
Up to 90% of people think instance
they drive better than average.
In my field of study at the university is even worse.
believes the full 94% of professors
they are better teachers than their average counterparts.
And as icing on the cake think a quarter of the population
that when it comes to social skills, they belong at the top,
in the top 1%.
Everyone is above average.
Is not that great?
Of course it is statistically very unlikely.
Now I do not doubt that these beliefs
you feel good.
Who would not believe
you smarter, funnier, and are much more talented
than the average person?
And also modest.
The problem of course is that beliefs are not innocent.
They have consequences.
They branch out into our world and may have further consequences.
And these effects are unexpected.
Unexpectedly’re false beliefs about reality
sooner or later come into conflict with the world.
Now, applied to positive illusions:
as self-esteem was bottled for sale,
there would probably have this kind of warning:
‘Provides guaranteed a good feeling.
Warning: unexpected adverse reactions possible.
One question: have you ever texted while driving?
You do not need to confess.
Think for a moment.
If you do this, it may be due to recklessness,
apparently.
And this is a true, genuine scientific fact.
People who are overconfident about their driving skills –
think of the people 90%
from there soon –
take greater risks.
They are texting while driving or driving under the influence
because they think:
“A lesser director this might not,
but of course I did.
No problem.”
This can bring your own life and the lives of other people at risk.
One of the most impressive examples
the havoc caused by positive illusions
the First World War.
nobody expected a world on its eve in 1914.
Everyone was convinced that everything would last only a few weeks,
everyone would be back home for Christmas.
And of course everyone believed they would win.
There was a very complacent belief
the superiority of each nation and country.
The result was horrific trench warfare,
now described in our history books.
Show that overconfident CEOs conclude agreements worse
and effectively reduce the value of their business.
If you work for a company and your CEO is elected CEO of the year
be careful,
because that’s when things will start going downhill,
because then the CEO will develop much too thick neck.
The financial crisis was largely caused by positive illusions,
by the false sense of security
which that financial experts had lulled us to sleep.
That idea is the fact that you never have to worry about:
“All the risks are under control
because we have advanced mathematical instruments, etc.
Do not worry.”
And of course the king of self-confidence,
everyone knows to outdo
when it comes to an inflated sense of self,
the man the post-truth era ushered itself:
Donald Trump.
Do not get me wrong, I am not opposed to positive thinking,
I’m not putting you against sentences
a positive outcome and make the best of your life.
Of course, I am also not against optimism.
Here I would not give a TEDx Talk when I was against optimism.
Sometimes there are very good and rational reasons to be optimistic,
but I think that positive illusions called ‘positive’ illusions,
can actually be our success in the way.
So, not only can we not false beliefs,
but they may even be harmful.
To conclude, I really think the truth is always better,
because illusions are potentially dangerous.
Although they initially seem harmless,
they sooner or later collide with reality.
Positive illusions natural feel to fine;
Who would not want to have the self-esteem of Donald Trump?
Of course it must be great.
But illusions inevitably will sooner or later lead to disappointment
because reality itself attracts no ball
our wishes, desires and illusions.
Worse, positive illusions
can encourage us to reckless behavior.
So I believe the truth is your best friend,
and I can not say it better
then in the words of Gloria Steinem:
“The truth will set you free,
but first it will make you pissed off. “
Thank you.
(Applause)
What if false beliefs make us happy?
We all know that truth can sometimes be uncomfortable,
or offensive or disturbing.
That means
we must choose to believe in some comforting falsehoods,
if we feel better?
Today, I want to make a plea for the truth,
the cold and unvarnished truth.
I will try to convince you
that whatever happens, the truth is always better.
Of course I realize that you
which already believe in many ways.
We love the truth.
So we are very upset about the proliferation of fake news’
the popularity of conspiracy theories.
We balk at the notion of alternative facts’
because of course we realize that there is only one truth.
And we get angry
when politicians try to tell us blatant lies.
The word “post-truth ‘was chosen as Word of the Year
by Oxford Dictionaries,
and this shows that many people the value of truth
will return to its rightful place in society –
which of course is a good thing, and I welcome that.
But we really cherish the truth in our daily lives?
Whether we live in our own post-truth world,
our own post-truth universe?
Sometimes when I give lectures on this subject,
I do a sample by way of a show of hands.
I will not do that today, because it is surprising to this
that regardless of the age and background of the audience,
I always more or less get the same results.
So it is easy to predict.
I explain to people this dilemma:
do you think we all need to illusions to life?
We all need illusions to be happy?
Or do you think the truth anyway always better?
And so it appears that
a large majority of people, but not overwhelming,
believes that we need to illusions to life.
That, to be happy, all
which require little silliness to reality some gilding,
because the reality in its full weight is simply unbearable.
People have a kind of pragmatic attitude toward the truth.
Of course, they say,
his true beliefs often useful to achieve goals in life,
but why do we have so insist on the truth?
What exactly is so great about the truth?
And if it is true that sometimes the truth can hurt,
why should we the illusions of other people want to pierce?
Why would we want to spoil it for them?
This concerns me personally
because I am involved in the skeptical movement
here in Flanders.
Skeptics investigate various irrational and strange beliefs,
pseudowetenschap, conspiracy theory, etc.
I even have a book about it with my supervisor,
we play the role of Doubting Thomas
and evidence requirements for all kinds of ideas.
Every time we come to the conclusion
that there really is no good scientific evidence for these beliefs,
I mention a few:
creationism, telepathy, conspiracy theories,
homeopathy, faith in the afterlife.
Now, even if we are right,
that these beliefs are irrational,
we should still not forget to stop
or maybe people do not benefit from these illusions?
If that is true,
was it from us not reckless and wanton act
to take them off these illusions?
We are not kind pretbedervers?
Good…
I did some soul-searching when I realized
maybe we had harmed
people by depriving them of their illusions.
I found solace in the wisdom of playwright George Bernard Shaw.
Who wrote: “The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic
does no more relevant
then the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober. “
Phew!
Well that was it. We can go home.
Everything is fine.
I know I do so not to worry
about taking away illusions.
Well, not so fast.
So we make it a bit too easy for ourselves with this short corner.
Of course I think it is important that drunk people are happy.
But this is not the only thing we have to keep in mind
when we talk about alcohol.
We know that alcohol has advantages and disadvantages,
or as the great philosopher Homer Simpson once put it:
“On alcohol!
The cause of – and solution to – all of life’s problems! “
I think we should apply the same kind of utility calculations
positive illusions, misconceptions favorably.
So, the truth is always better?
You can word truth here
fill in the broadest possible sense.
It can be about the truth that the universe is expanding
and that everything goes to the dogs,
or that we are all mortal
and thus will die ever;
or very simple personal truths about our personal lives.
Now, if you ask people –
the group of people who are convinced
we all need some illusions to survive and be happy –
if you ask them what beliefs can be beneficial,
although they are false,
you get this kind of answer:
Believe in God?
For example enlighten our existential fears.
Or what about the belief in reincarnation?
Maybe it works even better than believe in the ‘normal’ life after death.
Or perhaps the belief in a communist utopia.
That could also make us happy or good for society.
Not so sure of it.
The belief in homeopathy?
It may be completely false pseudo-scientific and,
but maybe you have something to placebo effects,
if you think it works.
Or faith in yourself?
The so-called “positive illusions.”
I’m going to focus on that positive illusions
because they are the best and most plausible candidate to me
for which we are looking for, namely soothing illusions.
There’s a lot of good, solid scientific evidence
the claim that positive illusions are favorable.
Psychologists have found
we are all prone to overconfidence.
We all overestimate our own abilities and talents.
Up to 90% of people think instance
they drive better than average.
In my field of study at the university is even worse.
believes the full 94% of professors
they are better teachers than their average counterparts.
And as icing on the cake think a quarter of the population
that when it comes to social skills, they belong at the top,
in the top 1%.
Everyone is above average.
Is not that great?
Of course it is statistically very unlikely.
Now I do not doubt that these beliefs
you feel good.
Who would not believe
you smarter, funnier, and are much more talented
than the average person?
And also modest.
The problem of course is that beliefs are not innocent.
They have consequences.
They branch out into our world and may have further consequences.
And these effects are unexpected.
Unexpectedly’re false beliefs about reality
sooner or later come into conflict with the world.
Now, applied to positive illusions:
as self-esteem was bottled for sale,
there would probably have this kind of warning:
‘Provides guaranteed a good feeling.
Warning: unexpected adverse reactions possible.
One question: have you ever texted while driving?
You do not need to confess.
Think for a moment.
If you do this, it may be due to recklessness,
apparently.
And this is a true, genuine scientific fact.
People who are overconfident about their driving skills –
think of the people 90%
from there soon –
take greater risks.
They are texting while driving or driving under the influence
because they think:
“A lesser director this might not,
but of course I did.
No problem.”
This can bring your own life and the lives of other people at risk.
One of the most impressive examples
the havoc caused by positive illusions
the First World War.
nobody expected a world on its eve in 1914.
Everyone was convinced that everything would last only a few weeks,
everyone would be back home for Christmas.
And of course everyone believed they would win.
There was a very complacent belief
the superiority of each nation and country.
The result was horrific trench warfare,
now described in our history books.
Show that overconfident CEOs conclude agreements worse
and effectively reduce the value of their business.
If you work for a company and your CEO is elected CEO of the year
be careful,
because that’s when things will start going downhill,
because then the CEO will develop much too thick neck.
The financial crisis was largely caused by positive illusions,
by the false sense of security
which that financial experts had lulled us to sleep.
That idea is the fact that you never have to worry about:
“All the risks are under control
because we have advanced mathematical instruments, etc.
Do not worry.”
And of course the king of self-confidence,
everyone knows to outdo
when it comes to an inflated sense of self,
the man the post-truth era ushered itself:
Donald Trump.
Do not get me wrong, I am not opposed to positive thinking,
I’m not putting you against sentences
a positive outcome and make the best of your life.
Of course, I am also not against optimism.
Here I would not give a TEDx Talk when I was against optimism.
Sometimes there are very good and rational reasons to be optimistic,
but I think that positive illusions called ‘positive’ illusions,
can actually be our success in the way.
So, not only can we not false beliefs,
but they may even be harmful.
To conclude, I really think the truth is always better,
because illusions are potentially dangerous.
Although they initially seem harmless,
they sooner or later collide with reality.
Positive illusions natural feel to fine;
Who would not want to have the self-esteem of Donald Trump?
Of course it must be great.
But illusions inevitably will sooner or later lead to disappointment
because reality itself attracts no ball
our wishes, desires and illusions.
Worse, positive illusions
can encourage us to reckless behavior.
So I believe the truth is your best friend,
and I can not say it better
then in the words of Gloria Steinem:
“The truth will set you free,
but first it will make you pissed off. “
Thank you.
(Applause)
Please follow and like us: