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Extending the Map Metaphor of Truth

May 15, 2021 Dominic Reichl

Truth is the reliability of a map of reality, the usefulness of a model of the world.

Maps which abstractly represent reality can be created in different languages (natural or technical) and at different levels of description (e.g., pedagogic, cultural, high-level scientific, or low-level scientific).

Scientists are the most reliable mapmakers, and their most detailed maps are low-level1 and math-heavy.

Spiritualists are the least reliable mapmakers, creating maps based on crude imagination.

Philosophers compare maps and think about mapping functions.

Wisdom means to know which map to pick in a given situation.

Common sense means that you don’t just follow the map blindly: if it sends you down a road that doesn’t exist, you don’t pretend it does.

Morality is a navigation system that tells you which roads to take, but doesn’t allow you to set the destination for yourself.

Religion is a navigation system that has its route preset by tradition and comes with an outdated map.

Mystics are those who take a permanent marker and scribble on the map until everything is plain-colored.

Zen is the teaching that you should get rid of your maps and look at the road.

Read More

  • What Is Truth?
  • Technical Vs. Sentimental Language
  1. An example for different levels in science would be the study of cognition in psychology (high-level), cognitive science (mid-level), and neuroscience (low-level).

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