Ways of Seeing
- Exploring Modern Metaphysics -

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POSITIVE ILLUSIONS - and Healthy Skepticism

Positive Illusions (or, Creative Self-Deception and the Healthy Mind) is a book by Shelley E. Taylor. An advertisement for the book summarizes an interesting viewpoint argued in the book, where truth is not always the best goal, depending on what one really wants:

"The healthy human mind seems to cordon off negative information, creating positive illusions that help us cope. These creative self-deceptions are particularly adaptive when one is threatened by adversity. Research with cancer patients, disaster victims and ordinary people facing crises verifies that mental and physical well-being can actually be enhanced by unrealistic optimism about one's self, the world and the future."

The search for Truth is not to be taken lightly, for there is much resistance, both personal and societal, to it. One should, when seeking the truth, remain skeptical about all interpretations. Consider this story about Healthy Skepticism as told by some unknown source who was recalling the farmer who bought a pig, then took it home and weighed it:

"This pig doesn't weigh as much as I thought it would," said the farmer after he learned its poundage. "But then, I never thought it would."

Still, the search for personal truth is usually well worth any inconvenience.


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