Fragmented Realities Regaining a Common Understanding of Truth Background Paper Background Paper Page 1 | Trilogue Salzburg 2019 Table of Contents Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Fragmented Realities – Searching for a Common Understanding of Truth ............................. 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 6 Reality and Truth .................................................................................................................... 7 1. Reality .............................................................................................................................. 7 2. Truth ................................................................................................................................ 7 3. Someone’s Reality vs. Objective Truth ........................................................................... 9 Searching for a Common Understanding ............................................................................. 10 Living in a Post-Truth Era ..................................................................................................... 13 Whom to Believe in a New Post-Truth Era? ......................................................................... 15 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 18 References ........................................................................................................................... 20 The Power of the Past – What Makes Us Believe That “Those Were the Days?” .................. 23 Tyranny of the Past .............................................................................................................. 23 A Case Study: Brexit ............................................................................................................ 24 Facts, Data and History ........................................................................................................ 29 Dealing with Myths: Narratives about Narratives ................................................................. 31 What Is to Be Done? ............................................................................................................ 33 References ........................................................................................................................... 35 The Failure of Media to Do Its Job – Fabricating the Truth Instead of Reporting It .............. 36 Preliminary Notes ................................................................................................................. 36 Perception of Journalists’ Role ............................................................................................. 37 Estrangement of Journalists from Their Audience ............................................................... 38 1. Social Milieus ................................................................................................................ 38 2. Co-orientation and Convictions ..................................................................................... 39 Critical Journalism ................................................................................................................ 41 1. Negativism ..................................................................................................................... 41 2. Problems and Solutions ................................................................................................ 42 3. Purposes and Unintended Consequences ................................................................... 43 Page 2 | Trilogue Salzburg 2019 Background Paper 4. Instrumentalizing Experts .............................................................................................. 44 5. Framing Relevance ....................................................................................................... 45 6. Withholding Information ................................................................................................ 46 7. Justified Exaggerations ................................................................................................. 48 Defending Questionable Practices ....................................................................................... 49 Reasonable Frustration and Distrust .................................................................................... 51 Control Waiver ...................................................................................................................... 52 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 54 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 54 1. Reduction of Consonance ............................................................................................. 54 2. Preserve Objectivity ...................................................................................................... 55 3. Assurance of Quality ..................................................................................................... 56 4. Regain Trust .................................................................................................................. 58 References ........................................................................................................................... 60 Imagined Dystopia – Have Orwell and Huxley Prepared Us for Today’s Reality? ................. 64 Lying and Trust ..................................................................................................................... 64 Edible or Poisonous? ............................................................................................................ 65 Spaces of Not Knowing ........................................................................................................ 66 Cui Bono? ............................................................................................................................. 67 What Is Truth? ...................................................................................................................... 68 The Democratization of Truth ............................................................................................... 69 The Power of Truth ............................................................................................................... 70 Fact or Fiction – How Much Truth Do We Have in Economics? .............................................. 72 How True Are Economic Statements? ................................................................................. 72 Why Are There Different Assessments of the Economic Reality? ....................................... 72 1. Disagreements about the Data ..................................................................................... 72 2. Disagreements about Causal Economic Relationships ................................................ 73 Why Can’t Economists Agree on Causal Economic Relationships? ................................... 75 Value Judgements Exacerbate Economic Discourse .......................................................... 77 What Should Be Done? ........................................................................................................ 78 References ........................................................................................................................... 80 Background Paper Page 3 | Trilogue Salzburg 2019 “It’s the Story, Stupid” – Selling the Reality of Products ......................................................... 82 VUCA World – Ambiguity Fatigue ........................................................................................ 82 Looking for Stability and Answers ........................................................................................ 84 Storytelling: The Basics ........................................................................................................ 84 Purpose vs. Attitude ............................................................................................................. 85 From Crisis Management to Crisis Leadership .................................................................... 87 From Truth Management to Truth Leadership ..................................................................... 88 Channels and Echo Chambers (Bubbles) ............................................................................ 88 Cambridge Analytica ............................................................................................................ 89 Conclusions and Solutions ................................................................................................... 92 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 93 References ........................................................................................................................... 95 Brain Change – How Is Our Brain Coping with Fake News and Misinformation ................... 96 Preamble: To Avoid Misunderstandings .............................................................................. 96 Short Overview on Basic Features of the Brain