Veracity Issues

The Five Pillars of Truth

[Rhetoric,] that powerful instrument of error and deceit.

-- John Locke: Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)

The following is somewhat interesting, and hopefully will be rewritten less clumsily:

"Ethos, along with the other two proofs, has become a tool for manipulation and is mostly falsified in modern times. Mostly by people of power or in a position of potential power, ethos has become a utensil to create a relation with the audience to persuade their beliefs in a similar fashion of the speaker. Mainly used by politicians, the use of manipulating beliefs has been used to gain power in order to accomplish an overall goal not initially foreseen by the majority. This allows radical ideas to be more widely accepted by the masses."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethos

dogma, hypocrisy, falsification

belief, denial, intransigence

cognitive illusion, confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance

"The historian must not try

to know what is truth,

if he values his honesty;

for if he cares for his truths,

he is certain to falsify his facts."

-- Henry Adams

"So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." 

— Thucydides

"By doubting we come to inquiry, by inquiring we come to perceive the truth."

-- Peter Abelard, philosopher and theologian (1079-1142)

"The ideal of a Freemason ... to whom property, nay even life, is not too dear ... for the defence of truth.  ... who does not favour vice though it be clad in purple."

-- Otto Klotz, 1868-03-15 (Ontario Installation Ceremony)