Jeremy Gauntlett SC

An address by Jeremy Gauntlett SC at the CJRC Forum on 3 March 2023, Some Reflections on Truth and Consequences.

Fellow members of the CJRC; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I am greatly honoured to be invited to speak to you this evening. I am a great admirer of the work that the CJRC does and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be here.

I have been asked to speak on the topic of "Truth and Consequences". This is a vast and complex topic, and I can only hope to do it justice in the time that I have available. I will begin by considering the nature of truth.

What is truth? This is a question that has been pondered by philosophers for centuries. There are many different theories of truth, but I will focus on two of the most common: the correspondence theory and the coherence theory.

The correspondence theory of truth states that a statement is true if it corresponds to reality. In other words, a statement is true if it accurately describes the way the world is. The coherence theory of truth, on the other hand, states that a statement is true if it is consistent with other beliefs that we hold. We must have some reason or evidence for any claim made in order to say or think such this claim is true. The claim must also not contradict other assumptions we normally take to be true.

Both of these theories of truth have their own strengths and weaknesses. The correspondence theory is appealing because it seems to provide an objective standard of truth. However, it can be difficult to determine whether or not a statement corresponds to reality. The coherence theory, on the other hand, is more flexible and allows for the possibility of multiple truths. I personally find the correspondence theory of truth to be the most persuasive. I believe that there is an objective reality that exists independent of our minds. Only reason and evidence can assure our knowledge and beliefs align with what is actually true, rather than what is convenient, agreeable or what we are feeling at the time.

Once we have considered the nature of truth, we can then turn to the question of consequences. What are the consequences of believing something that is not true? I believe that the consequences can be very serious.

If we believe something that is not true, then we are more likely to make bad decisions. Actions based on beliefs not grounded in true information or knowledge are more likely to result in negative consequences. We may also be more likely to tolerate or even endorse actions that will have serious consequences for ourselves and others.

The consequences of this can be seen all around us. We see it arising from misunderstandings and the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The rejection of scientific consensus on climate change and the resulting political inaction is a particularly egregious recent example.

So, what can we do to ensure that we are not misled by falsehoods? I believe that the best way to protect ourselves from the consequences of believing something that is not true is to be critical thinkers - to be open-minded and willing to consider evidence that contradicts our beliefs.

We must inform ourselves from reliable sources and engage in rational discourse with ourselves and others to ascertain the most likely account that can be supported by relevant empirical evidence and sound logical argument. Being right is better than being certain. Changing our minds when faced with credible new information is not a sign of weakness or intellectual defeat but instead is the mark of an open, rational mind.

It is also important to be tolerant of other people's beliefs, even if we do not agree with them. We must not impose our beliefs or opinions on others. We should always be open to considering evidence that contradicts our beliefs because that is how we learn and grow. Openness to revising our beliefs based on evidence and reason is core to intellectual honesty.

Truth and consequences are two sides of the same coin. If we want to make good decisions, then we need to be able to distinguish between truth and falsehood. We need to be critical thinkers and we need to be tolerant of other people's beliefs, even if we do not agree with them.

Thank you for your time.