How to Decide Something to be true or not

 

Humans are   generally gullible in nature. Gullibility refers to the tendency to believe or accept something without questioning or critically evaluating it, often leading to being deceived or tricked. It can be considered a personality trait, and while some individuals may be more gullible than others.

Hence how to accept something as true and accurate is an old age concern in human evolution. People have been using wide variety of methods, tools and principles to satisfy this need. Scientific method is considered to be the most widely used methodology in the modern world.

The scientific method is a systematic approach to acquiring knowledge and understanding the natural world through empirical evidence. It is a process of developing and testing hypotheses using observations and experiments. The following are the general steps of the scientific method:

 

1.         Make an observation: This is the first step of the scientific method. An observation could be anything that catches your attention or something that you notice in the natural world.

Example: A scientist observes that plants in a particular area are not growing as well as they should.

2.         Formulate a question: Based on the observation, a question should be formulated. The question should be specific and testable.

Example: Why are the plants in this particular area not growing as well as they should?

3.         Formulate a hypothesis: A hypothesis is a tentative explanation of the observed phenomenon. It is a statement that can be tested by conducting experiments or collecting data.

Example: The plants in this particular area are not growing well because of a lack of nutrients in the soil.

4.         Design an experiment: An experiment should be designed to test the hypothesis. The experiment should be carefully planned and conducted to ensure that the results are reliable and accurate.

Example: The scientist decides to add nutrients to the soil and compare the growth of the plants to those in another area without added nutrients.

5.         Collect and analyze data: The data collected from the experiment should be analyzed to determine whether the hypothesis is supported or not.

Example: The scientist measures the height and weight of the plants in both areas and records the data.

5.      Draw a conclusion: Based on the data collected and analyzed, a conclusion can be drawn as to whether the hypothesis is supported or not.

 

Apart from the scientific method, there are several other methods available to accept something as true. Here are some of the methods:

 

1.         Authority: This method involves accepting something as true because it is stated by a trusted authority figure.

 

Example: A doctor prescribes a medication, and the patient takes it because they trust the doctor's expertise.

Steps: a. Identify the authority figure who made the statement. b. Determine if the authority is credible and trustworthy. c. Accept the statement as true based on the credibility of the authority figure.

 

2.         Intuition: This method involves accepting something as true based on personal intuition or gut feeling.

Example: A person decides to take a different route home from work because they have a feeling that there will be heavy traffic on their usual route.

Steps: a. Identify the intuitive feeling or gut instinct. b. Determine the level of confidence in the intuition. c. Accept the intuition as true based on the level of confidence.

 

3.         Faith: This method involves accepting something as true based on religious or spiritual beliefs.

Example: A person believes in a divine power and accepts that their prayers will be answered.

Steps: a. Identify the religious or spiritual belief. b. Determine the level of faith in the belief. c. Accept the belief as true based on the level of faith.

 

4.         Personal Experience: This method involves accepting something as true based on personal experience.

Example: A person knows that fire is hot because they touched a hot stove in the past.

Steps: a. Identify the personal experience. b. Determine the level of confidence in the experience. c. Accept the experience as true based on the level of confidence.

 

 

It is important to note that these methods may not always be reliable or accurate.

The scientific method is considered the most reliable method because it is based on empirical evidence, which can be independently verified and tested by other scientists. It is also designed to minimize the impact of biases, personal opinions, and subjective interpretations on the results.

In contrast, the other methods mentioned above are often influenced by personal beliefs, biases, and subjective interpretations, and they may not always lead to accurate or reliable conclusions. For example, relying solely on authority figures can be risky as even experts can make mistakes, while intuition and personal experience can be unreliable or influenced by cognitive biases.

Overall, while other methods of accepting something as true exist, the scientific method is generally considered the most rigorous and reliable method for determining truth. It is based on systematic, objective, and testable procedures that aim to minimize the impact of biases and personal opinions. This makes it an essential tool for advancing knowledge and understanding in various fields, including science, technology, and medicine.

 

In the eastern part of the world, especially in India, people have used other reliable methods or principles in deciding what is actually true and what is not. One of them is the Buddhist teachings.

Buddhism is a philosophical and spiritual tradition that originated in ancient India and is based on the teachings of the Buddha. The Buddhist way of accepting something as true is grounded in a set of principles and methodologies that emphasize direct experience, critical inquiry, and personal insight. The Buddhist teaching itself has Five characteristics which explains how one should accept the teaching pf Buddha as true or not.

 

1.         Ehipassiko - "come and see for yourself"

2.         Opanayiko - "leading inward"

3.         Paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi - "to be personally experienced by the wise"

4.         Sanditthiko - "immediately apparent"

5.         Akaliko - "timeless"

 

These characteristics reflect the emphasis in Buddhism on direct experience, personal inquiry, and practical application. Here's how they can be applied as a guideline for accepting something as true:

 

1.         Ehipassiko - "come and see for yourself": This characteristic encourages individuals to explore and investigate the teachings of Buddhism for themselves. For example, if one wants to understand the concept of impermanence, they can observe the impermanent nature of things around them such as the changing seasons, the aging process, and the passing of time. By directly observing the impermanence of things, one can come to understand this fundamental teaching of Buddhism for themselves.

2.         Opanayiko - "leading inward": This characteristic emphasizes the importance of turning inward to explore one's own thoughts, emotions, and experiences. For example, if one wants to understand the nature of suffering, they can explore their own experience of suffering and investigate the causes of their own pain and discontent. By turning inward and developing mindfulness and introspection, one can come to a deeper understanding of the causes and nature of suffering.

3.         Paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi - "to be personally experienced by the wise": This characteristic underscores the importance of personal experience and insight. For example, if one wants to understand the concept of non-self, they can investigate their own sense of self and see how it changes over time and in different contexts. By developing personal insight into the nature of self and non-self, one can come to a deeper understanding of this fundamental teaching of Buddhism.

4.         Sanditthiko - "immediately apparent": This characteristic suggests that the truth of the teachings should be immediately apparent and accessible to those who seek it. For example, the teaching of the Four Noble Truths - that suffering exists, that it has a cause, that it can be overcome, and that there is a path to liberation - can be immediately recognized by those who have experienced suffering and are seeking a way out of it. The truth of this teaching is immediately apparent to those who seek it with an open mind and heart.

5.         Akaliko - "timeless": This characteristic suggests that the truth of the teachings is timeless and universal. For example, the teaching of the Eightfold Path - which outlines a path of ethical conduct, mental development, and wisdom - is relevant to individuals in all cultures and time periods. The principles of right speech, right action, and right livelihood, for example, are timeless ethical principles that can be applied in any context.

 

In summary, these Characteristics of  teaching (Dhamma) can serve as a useful guideline for accepting something as true  or not. By emphasizing direct experience, personal inquiry, and practical application, these characteristics encourage individuals to develop their own understanding of the  content and to use them as a means of cultivating wisdom  in their own lives. While the west has developed and used the scientific method, the East has used similar methodologies  with similar characteristics much earlier.