Mark Twain famously (though probably apocryphally) mentioned we should always by no means let the reality get in the best way of an excellent story. Archaelogists may beg to vary, notably when the story in query is a dramatic rewriting of human historical past that – because the president of the Society of American Archaeology, Daniel Sandweiss, has famous – has a long-standing hyperlink with racist ideologies.
This narrative claims that the acquainted historic civilisations of Eurasia, Africa and the Americas drew inspiration from a mysterious superior tradition that predated all of them. Archaeologists are assured that no such civilisation ever existed, however they’re additionally conscious that persuading believers to reject the story is a troublesome process.
Nevertheless, as we discover in our interview with archaeologist Flint Dibble in “The archaeologist fighting claims about an advanced lost civilisation”, they could have discovered a profitable technique within the type of the “truth sandwich”. On this debating method, archaeologists first start by discussing actual data, what their analysis has revealed concerning the previous. Then they deal with the false data – on this case explaining how the info depart no room for this misplaced civilisation – earlier than returning to and re-emphasising the actual data.
Reality sandwiches’ look like good at preventing misinformation in some contexts however not others
The reality sandwich gained reputation after it was formalised by linguist George Lakoff in 2018. It’s tempting to imagine that it will possibly persuade audiences to desert perception in false narratives. However can it? The easiest way to search out out, after all, is thru managed experiments. The primary such analysis has now been performed, and it presents a blended image. Reality sandwiches seem to be efficient in sure contexts however not in others, the place alternative ways to construction an argument are extra persuasive.
These conflicting outcomes might sound problematic, however they’re truly proof of scientific inquiry at work – a course of that includes testing concepts and refining hypotheses in gentle of latest knowledge. It’s only this method that may actually uncover one of the best ways to deal with misinformation. Or, to place it one other means, science ought to by no means let an excellent story get in the best way of the reality.
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