Nearly a week after Stephen Hawking passed away, people even in remote parts of the globe showed up in memory of this great British scientist. Mr. Hawking, best known for his study of black holes, is respected for not allowing a physical disability to limit his mental brilliance. Yet in a sign of the state of humanity, he is also being held up as a hero for humble and intense curiosity, not just for the truth about the physical universe but for universal truths.
In 2017, a Texas-based data company called Global Language Monitor found "truth" to be the "word of the year" among English-speakers. A debate over the nature of truth "is currently quite fashionable," the company's analysis found. Besides, two runner-up words were "narrative" and "post-truth." And in a January report about "truth decay (衰败)",the RAND Corporation, a research organization, found the loss of trust in key institutions has left "people searching for new sources of credible and objective information."
In countries with a free press, journalists have gathered to fact-check comments by politicians. Harvard University now offers a free one-hour online course to help people "better distinguish good information from bad" in hopes that they will not "share the bad." Tech giants such as Facebook are being forced to fix truth filters (过滤器) on their online platforms. A report this month for the European Commission says that the online sites "are becoming increasingly important as both enablers and gatekeepers of information." They should reveal how their algorithms (计算程序) select news items, the report stated.
Many nations have come to see honest information as strategic wealth. "Truth matters", says Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State. "Relying on Twitter feeds and news reports will prove totally insufficient when policymakers have to make some of the most difficult decisions they face."
Giants of scientific discovery such as Hawking have long been role models for seeking truth beyond their profession. "In recent years I realized that Hawking has become a symbol for mankind," says physicist Bobby Acharya. "People looked to him for reason and truth." The tribute rolling in for the man is actually a widespread desire for light over darkness, for truth over all the "black holes" of misinformation campaigns.
