Fact and Opinion

 Fact and Opinion

I was taught that there are two distinct categories of information:

Fact and Opinion.

Fact is what we know to be so,

Observable or at least deducible

It’s the holy grail of any crime detective in solving a case.

Fact is science. Science is facts

As much as we like to think we know that we know that we know,

The truth is, no-one can know all the facts

This leads us to something of a grey area of spirituality and religion. 

Proponents of any religious system hold

That their dogma and doctrines, the content of their holy writ 

Belong in the first category: fact

And teaching of anything different is ‘mere opinion’

Or more harshly - heresy.

One might think that the other category should be

The opposite of fact: falsehood, fiction

But actually the other category is opinion

At least that’s what I think!

You see, there I express my opinion -

You’re free to agree or disagree, as you see fit.

Opinions are an individual’s perception of reality -

It might be correct, in which case the information is also fact.

The one who holds an opinion assume they know the relevant facts

But this is where it becomes problematic

We like to think that we base our opinions on facts.

Opinions can be, and often are, just wrong.

We can be mistaken about the facts or maybe we were misinformed.

Opinions might be based on prejudice.

And this is where opinions become dangerous

Especially when they masquerade as facts.

Wait! There’s another category of information: Misinformation.

The deliberate attempt to misrepresent the facts or conceal them

We also call this propaganda when employed by powerful people

To manipulate the masses.

It’s my opinion that propaganda exists everywhere

And whether it’s governments or individuals who control the media

There’s an agenda that relies upon

People not knowing what’s going on.