EF21 SHOW NOTES
Looking to play or download the episode? Click here…EF21 (BTP-EF5): Should Lying be Made Illegal and the Importance of Figuring Out Why You Believe What you Believe — Behind the Podcast of Episode EF5
Episode EF21 Summary
Spoiler alert: You’re about to listen to a Behind The Podcast (BTP) of Episode EF5, which was Season 1, Episode 3 of the Evolve Faster Podcast titled The Truth is Clay in the Hands of a Sculptor. The driving question of this episode (and this BTP) for you to think through is … what is the truth?!
As a reminder about Episode EF5: Truman, an ordinary man with a regular job, is caught lying in a country where lying is illegal. Thanks to his actions, he ends up facing a mandatory Truth Course to get him back on the track. Terrified, Truman slowly realizes the truth is not what we all grew accustomed to believe. Is it possible that truth is nothing more than a piece of clay molded by someone’s interests? Time is running out for Truman, and the sculptor of truth might just hold the power to mold his future.
The third episode of the first season of the Evolve Faster Podcast Episode is driven by the big question What Is The Truth? Although many of us believe we should stick to the truth, many believers of the same idea often have their “truths” clashing. Why is that? If we agree to follow what’s true, why does it seem we’re doing such a bad job?
To peek behind the curtain of Episode 5, we’ll dissect the following submitted questions:
- How can we know what is true and what is not?
- Why the question “What is the truth? Why do I believe what I believe?” and how did the episode come to be?
- In what ways does twisting of the truth directly affects us as individuals?
- Is there a definition of the truth that actually works?
- How did you figure out how to interplay the two stories?
- Who/what is Truman based on? Is this like Kafka’s trial?
- Was there any chance that Truman was going to get out of the Truth course? Why leave it unresolved?
- What does George write onto the book the statue is holding that “only the statue can read?”
- What’s on the screens?
- The “in god we trust” is what Truman hates?
- Why does George swipe the face off? 12. What is the metaphor of a faceless statue?
- And more…
dedication
DEDICATION: Episode EF5 is dedicated to Ai Weiwei, a Chinese contemporary artist who successfully brings his work way outside the barriers of art. Through the mysterious “lies” of artistic creativity, he provides light on the truth around him. Weiwei is in constant feud with the Chinese government, actively opposing their stance on democracy and human rights. Supposedly, people can’t type his name in Chinese-domestic web search.
Weiwei is a true dissident in his own country thanks to the perpetual battle with the authorities. But instead of silencing him, Weiwei’s influence is steadily growing despite the constant lock-ups and beatdowns. For the last 30 years, Weiwei creates art to keep the real truth alive – the one that helps humanity, instead of destroying it.
Weiwei is a master at transforming difficult ideas into obvious truths using only a few words. Mainly active through social media, Weiwei’s innovative usage of social tools is almost ironic considering the political limitations. Besides through art, in 2016, Weiwei took his activism online with social commentaries and essays for three straight years. Unsurprisingly, his voice became even louder and his reputation even more notorious.
It seems that instead of truth, honesty is what the World needs, and Weiwei has more than enough of that rare resource. Although our world is far from an Orwellian or Huxleyan dystopia, it is cruel and often silences words everyone needs to hear. Especially in the world where the ones with power regularly stomp the weak.
HOW AI WEIWEI INSPIRES EF5
In Episode EF5, the hidden protagonist discovers that truth, personal opinion
To follow up on Weiwei’s life and work, I highly suggest you check out links below:
inspirations
INSPIRATIONS: Joseph Heller, a novelist most famous for his novel Catch-22 and revealing that absurd and contradictory life situations are more than common. George Orwell, a writer who made every future dystopian writer’s job extremely hard. Franz Kafka, a writer who destroyed his fascinating work in scorching flame and was plagued by flames of existential truth. Immanuel Kant, a philosopher who tried to simplify and help us with the existential mess by creating the Categorical Imperative. Episode EF5 was further inspired by David Hume, William James, The Truman Show, Jack Smart, The Matrix. For a full list of data and references please see Episode EF5 Show Notes.
references
Irineo Cabreros, MODERN SCIENTISTS ARE WRONG FAR MORE THAN YOU THINK, psmag.com. https://psmag.com/education/scientists-are-wrong-a-lot (Accessed: Feb 12, 2019).
Stephen Camarata, The Emerging Crisis in Critical Thinking, www.psychologytoday.com. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-intuitive-parent/201703/the-emerging-crisis-in-critical-thinking (Accessed: Feb 12, 2019).
episode quotes
Any of these quotes make you think? If so, please support the show by sharing…
The truth is more wily than a coyote and some of our greatest minds have failed to pin down universal definitions.
Do you know why you believe what you believe?
An obvious lie to you, might appear to be the perfect truth to someone else.
The news is sensational because people crave drama.
It’s you against Google and you’re not going to win. In fact, you aren’t even qualified to play the game.