Wisconsin Has a Problem with Truth

The Truth Problem in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has a problem with truth. No, really. In his initial budget proposal Governor Scott Walker sought to erase “the search for truth” from the language of the University of Wisconsin Mission (henceforth, “Missiongate”). The fact that he has since backed away from this position does not, to my mind, show a renewed interest in truth. Quite the contrary. What has ensued since the initial striking of the language violates the search for truth even more than striking the language, and the more recent evasion elides three different types of truth.

1. Truth as Sincerity

To be sincere means to be honest, first and foremost, to oneself. Governor Walker claims that his office did not first suggest these changes to the language, when there is clear evidence to the contrary (http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2015/feb/06/scott-walker/despite-deliberate-actions-scott-walker-calls-chan/ ). This suggests that not only is Governor Walker misleading others, but he is also being insincere, in the sense that he cannot even fully believe what he saying. Therefore, either the governor has a very short memory, or he cannot possibly be sincere when he is making these new claims, namely that he had no involvement in Missiongate, and the latter is much more likely. Even if times call for one to make hard decisions, or deliver bad news, I, for one, would prefer it be done sincerely.

2. Truth as Integrity

Truth as integrity involves standing behind one’s beliefs, even in spite of one’s position being unpopular. The famous philosopher Socrates was even willing to die to stand up for his beliefs about the search for truth.  I don’t think any of us expect one to continue to hold the same position in light of new opposing information, or in spite of all evidence to the contrary; such is irrationality or obstinacy. But, in what has happened in Missiongate is not that the Governor changed his position in light of new information; rather, he claims he never held the position that he did, in fact, hold. What does it say when one is willing to denounce what one has said or done merely for political expediency?

3. Truth as Opposed to B.S.

In his famous essay “On Bullshit” Harry Frankfurt argued that the real essence of bullshit is a total disregard for truth or falsehood. The B.S.er mixes lies and truth for a “higher” purpose: namely, getting what she wants. Even liars respect the truth enough to lead us away from it. The B.S.er, on the other hand, is morally worse than the liar, because their aim is completely separate from the question of truth and falsehood altogether; they couldn’t care less if what they are saying is true or false. What concerns me is that if some of the Governor’s rhetoric over Missiongate is in fact B.S., that he is not alone in this trend on the stage of politics one bit. His rhetoric in the field of political speech is like Lance Armstrong’s drug use in the Tours de France of the 2000s.

Which leads me to my final point. To the extent that the Governor is bending the truth, or would rather operate outside of the bounds of truth, this is not solely his fault. In the discipline of philosophy, truth is something that needs to be proven, that we need to convince others of by way of rational argument. Philosophy would not have developed into the rich discipline that it has if everyone who encountered an opposing argument simply said, “Well, okay.” To that end, students, journalists, and most importantly citizens writ large, must question the claims that our politicians make, and the truth and the motivation behind them.  If we do not do this, then regardless of what the language of the UW System reads, the “search for truth” is, in effect, already lost from our mission. As it stands, we all have a problem with truth—and holding people to it. And as the old adage goes, the first step to solving a problem is admitting we have one.