How Do You Know What Is True?

[MrDantheNobody]

Dawkins didn’t really answer Alex’s question. His answer is question begging. Alex asked him, “How can you know what you believe is true.” Dawkins responded with, “Believing true things makes me more likely to survive”. His response assumes truth and begs Alex’s original question.

[dipdo]

Wind blows the bushes, I run away…right into a pride of lions!! Cost me there!

[vendomnu]

But if it's a bear in the bushes the womenfolk will fear nothing.

[selliantuttimusi]

I think that, sometimes, believing in false things may help you with surviving, but I'm pretty sure that, most of the time, knowing the truth helps you more.

[flashbash]

I didn't realize it at the time when watching both this conversation with Peterson and the one referenced with Dawkins, but this was a bad example. It actually does cost something to act on the lie that there is a tiger. But there is a way to tweak it to make it work. If you didnt simply run and waste energy but strengrhened yourself and your community on the idea of a hypthetical threat, then perhaps believing in the lie that the threat is greater than it actually is is truly beneficial to survial..

I have discovered something similar when it comes to hope. There is this false belief that people genuinely have about themselves and everyone else they meet: You will overcome this. You will succeed. Better days will come. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

We all know that nothing is truly guaranteed. We know that tomorrow isn't promised. But truly live your life with the certainty that the bad times will pass and that there are better times ahead and watch how it changes your life.
People say to live everyday like its your last, but I'm starting to believe that we as a species have endured for so long because of our false belief that we will live forever and everything we do has some tangible meaning that will outlast us when we do inevitably die.

[ochemwb]

This is why I love people like Alex and Dr Peterson. They’re attempting will all their might to be intellectually honest and logically consistent. So when they recognize a bad point in an argument they’re willing to point it out regardless of whether that person is with or against them. That helps to actually seek truth.

[dee]

Dawkins answer is instead to the question: Why should I believe in true things?
Dawkins gave the answer he have because he assumes that survival is the goal, which it is in a naturalistic frame work, but if you have a different goal, then you may disagree with the answer.
As to 'how' you know what you believe is true, I would say because we recognize only true ideas can allow us to have successful novel predictions in our reality, if an idea gives us successful predictions, you can be reasonable in believing that idea to be true.
Mathematics is the most literal example: We know 2+2=4 because we can make successful predictions assuming that its true. Making successful predictions in the reality we live in is fundamentally the most beneficial thing to our survival.

[vg]

He's conflating being cautious and being right, running away when youre not in danger doesn't save your life, it only saves your life when you're right that its in danger.

[marklefevre]

There is a price to pay for running away every time there's a rustling. You've wasted energy, and if a breeze or a small bird can keep you from getting berries, you're going to starve.

[ozziejones]

Running away from a precieved threat when there is no threat costs you plenty.

[dannyazua]

Proverbs 28:1 “the wicked run when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions”

[preciousamaechi]

Started listening to this today, quite good what these men are on about.

[DoubleK]

Believing the truth might help you survive
But speaking it earns you the hemlock

[IzanamiGem]

I admire you Dr. Jordan B. Peterson. That's the true. I'm Nahuel Tomas Falero, from Uruguay. I send you always my best wishes from the bottom of my heart. 🇺🇾❤️

[mandelorean]

KNOWING what tigers can do and are around is enough with intelligence to stay smart about it.
Complacency can get that person killed

[whitenoiseuk]

As others have pointed out there is a clear difference between believing there is definitively a tiger in the bush and believing that it is possible that there might be a tiger in the bush. To take evasive action when you hear a rustle has nothing to do with believing a falsehood and has everything to do with acknowledging that there is a chance that the noise might be indicative of mortal danger making a swift retreat an entirely rational response.

[WATCHMYCLIPSZ]

At this point in life i rush to those bushes saying here kitty kitty 💀

[jaketurner]

I really enjoy watching intelligent people have intelligent conversations

[brandonmacey]

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[falconheart]

This is precisely why the scientific method exists.