- We need **Truth** to solve physical problems (Vaccines need to work, Bridges need to stand). - But we need **Myth/Hypocrisy** to solve social problems (Diplomacy, Peace, Polite Society) -- [[Societies suppress truth to maintain shared fiction with rational hypocrisy]] - **The Challenge of our time:** How do we design systems (using AI, Blockchain, or Institutions) that allow us to verify **Objective Truth** (so we don't die of stupidity) while maintaining the **Social Fictions** (so we don't kill each other)? ## The "Backstage" (Private/Scientific) - Here, we must be ruthless about **Truth**. We need scientists, engineers, and strategists to admit, "The bridge is weak," "The policy is failing," "The virus is airborne." - If Hypocrisy leaks into this room (e.g., Lysenkoism in the USSR, or ignoring data for political correctness), **bridges collapse and people die.** ## The "Frontstage" (Public/Social) - Here, we must be careful about **Common Knowledge**. We use euphemisms ("Collateral damage" instead of "Dead civilians") and rituals to maintain social cohesion. - If Radical Truth leaks into this room too aggressively, **riots start and marriages end.**