Distinguishing True from False Opinions

Distinguishing True from False Opinions

An obstacle to a rational conversation on ethical issues is expressed by the often asked questions: “Can we call opinions either true or false? Aren't they just opinions?” When we want to dismiss a statement that we disagree with we often say, “That’s your opinion.” This legitimate objection calls for a brief look at the meaning of truth and falsity. The study of ethics invites the learners to think about ideas at every step and to consider whether they can accept them as true. To agree or disagree and to give reasons for a position signifies intellectual development and promotes further development. To reject ethical opinions without consideration is a sign of intellectual and moral flabbiness.

In affirming that some opinions are better than others or that some are true and others false, I do not presuppose that my opinions are necessarily the best or most true. We can each improve our view of reality only by making a life-long process of learning, and refining our opinions.  As a first step, we need to clarify what we mean by opinions. Opinions consist of beliefs that we express as statements. Statements and beliefs are true or false. When we express an opinion, we do not have absolute certainty that our opinion holds true, but we think that it does. We assume that if we knew everything that involves the particular issue, we would know that our opinion is true. But in fact, we do not know everything that we need to know, and so our opinion remains uncertain. To take an example not directly involving ethics, suppose the owners of a business think it would be a good idea to borrow money to expand their facilities. In their opinion, the expansion will increase their profits, enable them to hire more people, and improve their own lives and that of their community. The owners are implying that if they knew all of the factors that would affect their business, they would know that good business sense calls for expansion at this time. In fact, they do not know all of the factors, so their opinion might prove wrong leading to bankruptcy, harming themselves and others.

In most important areas of our lives we must act without absolute certainty. We are more likely to form true opinions when we have a rich understanding of the area with which we are dealing. For example, a medical opinion from an examining physician carries weight that the mere opinion of an uninformed person does not. And yet, the patient may want to get a “second opinion.” Therefore, developing our knowledge in areas in which we make ethical decisions holds a high priority. Much ethical misconduct results from what Robert Solomon called tunnel vision and moral myopia. We each have a pressing ethical duty to pay attention to the wide view so that we know who is affected by our decisions, and the long view, so that we see as far as possible what the long term effect of our action will be. American philosopher, John Dewey, suggested that the moral virtues ought to include “wide sympathy, keen sensitiveness, persistence in the face of the disagreeable, and balance of interests enabling us to undertake the work of analysis and decision intelligently.” These qualities help us make good decisions in ethics and in every other aspect of life.