Title: The Truth About Truth: chains of evidence
Author: David Millett
ISBN: 13: 978-1530563326
Publisher: David Millett Publications
Pages: 66
Genre: Religion, Science, Spirituality, Philosophy
Interviewed by: Gary Sorkin
About the Author:
David Millett is a digital artist. He is an accomplished author, filmmaker, producer of paper books, and eBooks. He loves writing, videography, photography, filmmaking, travel, and his wife Julia.
Author Interview with David Millett
PBR: Today we have the pleasure, once again, of talking with author David Millett about his latest book titled The Truth About Truth: chains of evidence. Thank you, David, for spending a bit of time with us.
DM: It is always a pleasure to work with you Gary. Your past reviews of my works have been insightful and appreciated.
PBR: Most people have an understanding of what is true and what is not true, whether intentionally false such as a lie, or simply unbelievable with common sense. What made you interested in this subject to the point of doing your research and eventually writing your book?
DM: I got motived to write the book because, as you stated, most people believe they know what truth is. My life experience revealed to me that the concept of truth is more complicated than generally understood. The history of truth is a rich one filled with twists and turns and the modern concept of truth is scattered and disjointed. To me there is room for a more distinct definition of truth than is used today.
PBR: In your book, you separate truth from belief. Kindly tell us a bit about how this difference plays a part in your daily life and, as a follow up, what are some of your beliefs which you think may not be true?
DM: The difference I draw between belief and truth is manifest by the concept of chains of evidence. Chains of evidence insist on observable, repeatable, and measurable proof. Beliefs are in most part not supported by chains of evidence. Generally, beliefs are cultural, story based, and often mostly wishful thinking. The definition of truth I work towards in my book subscribes to chains of evidence as its foundation. It is via this clear definition of truth I hope to empower the reader to develop an improved concept of truth.
I am just as susceptible as the next person to hold something as true that is not supported by a chain of evidence. However, I hold these claimed truths as highly improbable as per the truth-scale defined in my book. For example, I hold the age of the universe to be 13 billion years old. I consider this a highly probable truth as there are strong chains of evidence that support the belief. However, it is highly improbable that a god exists as the chains of evidence do not exist to support this claimed truth.
PBR: Interesting. So religion, as you wrote, falls under belief whereas the technology and physics, rather the principles of the Universe, would be defined as truth?
DM: I hold all claimed religious truths as highly improbable as they all suffer from very thin to no chains of evidence supporting these claimed truths. Also, all religions base their system for defining truth on absolutes. For example, you cannot deny the existence of Jesus Christ and at the same time maintain you are a Christian. To Christianity the existence of Jesus Christ is an irrefutable absolute truth. However, as I show in my book, there are no absolute truths. In fact, if an absolute truth is encountered this is a warning to begin a search for chains of evidence to support the claimed absolute truth. What are the chains of evidence that Jesus Christ existed? Only the scriptures that claim he did. Therefore, his existence is not supported by observable, repeatable, or measurable evidence, just story, culture, and hearsay. This places this claimed truth as highly improbable on the truth-scale defined in my book.
PBR: The graphic representation of a chain is certainly appropriate, but can truth prevail without a direct linkage to previous proven theories?
DM: In the modern definition of the word truth is a version that states: truth may be based on popular belief. In my book I make the argument that a highly probable truth must have a strong chain of evidence to support it. If it does not, it must be place at the highly foggy and improbable end of the truth-scale defined in my book. The truth-scale graphic tries to represent this idea.
PBR: During your research on this topic, what areas of philosophy did you find to be most stimulating?
DM: I’ve read David Hume and Bertrand Russell and find Bertrand Russell as the writer I admired the most in the area of philosophy. I also, loved reading Rene Descartes’ Discourse and Karl Poper’s ideas are very important to me too.
PBR: I see. You certainly show much enthusiasm on the topic. Do you foresee your book making contribution to the evolution of the concept, or is it a passing exercise in debating already determined theories?
DM: I have high hopes, but low expectations about any of my books and films. My aim is to help the reader develop an improved method for critiquing truth. And to help define this enigmatic concept. It is up to others to judge its success at achieving these goals.
PBR: What would you wish your reader to have as a “Take away” once finishing your book?
DM: An improved understanding of what is truth and what they believe to be truth. The world is filled with actions based on claimed truths that are not supported in chains of evidence. The world would be a better place if this were not so.
PBR: Finally, let me ask you what’s on your list for future publications, and what are you working on now?
DM: I am working on a documentary film called ‘The Root Cause’ (https://youtu.be/zrZDz1KJwxw) with my wife Julia Buss. It should release later this year. I am planning to begin work on a new fiction book called ‘The Cure’. It will explore the concept of a world without religion.
PBR: We certainly thank you again for your time and wish you the best of success with this book as well with all of your publications.
DM: Thank you; as always a pleasure.
To learn more about “The Truth About Truth” please visit: Pacific Book Review.
