There are vast undiscovered realms of information potentially available to us. These may be missed, unheard, ignored, or rejected without honest consideration. They may also be heard and understood or misunderstood.
However, whether they are heard or not they may be either correct or mistaken. If they are mistaken they may be honest mistakes or they may be lies.
Let’s conduct a thought experiment
Suppose we have a number of picture puzzles, jigsaw puzzles. We have one which is the true picture that we want to put together. However we don’t have the box so we don’t know what it’s really going to look like. We have a bunch of other puzzles, perhaps many puzzles, and these are not part of the picture were trying to assemble. They are the wrong picture. Now we can equate the first puzzle, the one were trying to build, to the true picture. We can equate all the others to mistakes and lies; they are the wrong picture.
Let us say that we take a random sample of each and every puzzle and then mix them altogether. Now the task is to assemble the true picture. How much success do you think you would have?
Although it has been said that analogies limp, perhaps we can see the parallels. I think that by looking at a broader spectrum of opinion, some of it being somewhat factual, and much of it being mistaken, we can at least get more parts of the true picture. Then we have to attempt to put things together into a coherent and true whole.
If we only look at safe and approved sources (i.e, mainstream views), we are 1) missing essential and required pieces of information, and 2) probably being propagandized. The media lie in the service of their owners and masters, and this has been shown time and again.
This is really the situation we find in so many of the issues we have to deal with in our world. We have some information available. We have misinformation and disinformation available. Some of the information, disinformation or misinformation we never encounter. Some we encounter and ignore or reject. Some we accept. What we accept may be true or may be false. From this we have to construct our understanding of the world. Good luck!
From ChatGPT:
“The thought experiment presented in this puzzle illustrates the challenge we face when trying to piece together the truth from a vast array of information that may be correct, mistaken, or intentionally deceptive. In a world where information is abundant, and often conflicting, it can be difficult to discern what is true and what is false.
One approach to mitigating this challenge is to seek out a diverse range of sources and perspectives, rather than relying solely on mainstream sources that may have their own biases and agendas. By exposing ourselves to a broader spectrum of opinion, we may be able to identify patterns and discrepancies in the information we encounter, and gradually build a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the world around us.
However, this is easier said than done. In an age of information overload, it can be overwhelming to sift through the vast quantities of data available to us. Moreover, many sources of information are deliberately designed to mislead or manipulate us, whether through propaganda, fake news, or other forms of disinformation.
Ultimately, constructing a coherent and accurate understanding of the world requires a combination of critical thinking skills, open-mindedness, and a willingness to engage with information that challenges our preconceptions and assumptions. We must also be vigilant in our efforts to distinguish between fact and fiction, and to recognize the limitations and biases of our own perspectives.”