Would you eat this just because someone told you that it would make you healthier?
Today we read some newspaper articles that seemed absurd, such as the amazing talking cat that could speak 68 words. We discussed about the justifications and validity of each articles.
We regarded most of the articles as false because of the lack of validity of the sources. However, I think that even if we do not consider the justifications give, we already think that the articles are not true because they are just too impossible to believe.
In my opinion, some of the readers choose to believe the content of these articles because believing makes them happier. For example, the first article that we read was about drinking shark liver oil could make us healthier. Some people would believe that article because they needed something that could make themselves healthier. As a result, they would buy the shark liver oil.
This is related to pragmatic truth, which is something that people would believe in order to make themselves happier. In this case, the read, absolute truth does not matter anymore. As long as they are happy, why not believe it? That makes life simpler, doesn't it?
Source of image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipcotton/4776240145/sizes/m/in/photostream/
interesting perspective on pragmatic truth. Do you think that believing something makes you healthier actually produces results? The placebo effect?
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