At the Cost of Momentum: The Case for Truth-Grounded Activism

Abstract

In the face of injustice, there is often a strong desire to mobilize others to immediate action. However, building public support is difficult when the issue is complicated. This leaves many activists tempted to present matters in simple, undifferentiated terms, as nuance can dampen momentum. However, oversimplification tends to be at odds with truth and it is this tension, between truth and activism, that is the focus of this paper. We begin by exploring the kind of communication that best mobilizes masses of people and note the inverse relationship between motivational as opposed to truthful communication. We then note that, though propaganda is more efficient in creating momentum, it nonetheless carries inherent dangers in that it may (i) over focus on symptoms rather than the disease; (ii) fuel authoritarian personality-types; and (iii) undermine the lifeblood of democracy. We conclude by suggesting that Philosophy for Children is a welcome educational response to this problem because it focuses on relevant contemporary issues, while fostering thinking skills that has the potential to lead to long lasting change grounded in truth. Ultimately the message is that a society and its citizens will do better by embracing pedagogical interventions aimed at fostering “active thinkers” rather than “activists.”