A point about misinformation and freedom



In her 1999 book, Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life, moral philosopher Sissela Bok strenuously argued that when people hold false beliefs and they act on them, they are deprived of the freedom to decide and act on the basis of actual knowledge. Citing lies by politicians to the public, she argued that deceit and false beliefs can destroy a democracy. Deceit and false beliefs take from society its freedom to choose based on true reality. 

False beliefs can come from intentional deceit or propaganda or from honest mistakes. Regardless of the source, some false beliefs are occasionally lethal. One important issue now is whether to get vaccinated or not. Some people who decide to not get vaccinated do so on the basis of false information about the vaccine. Sometimes one of them gets infected and passes the virus to another(s). Occasionally they die from the infection. Some or most of unvaccinated people claim they reject the vaccine as a matter of personal freedom. The issue of the effect of deceit on their choices apparently rarely or never seriously crosses their minds. 

In an interview with the Washington Post, medical doctor Lena Wen commented on the phenomenon of false beliefs driving decisions about COVID vaccines and the consequences for personal freedom:
I think how we got here is complicated, right? I agree with the surgeon general in issuing the advisory about misinformation and disinformation — certainly that plays a big role here. There are individuals out there who are knowingly spreading misinformation. There are others who are clicking and then, unfortunately, sharing misinformation that’s leading to question that and the efficacy of vaccines. That misinformation is taking away people’s freedom to make decisions for themselves and their families.
Wen maybe misspoke a bit there. Belief in misinformation takes away people’s freedom to make better informed decisions or ones based on less false beliefs. 

As far as I know, spreading false information about COVID vaccines is legal protected free speech. There are no legal repercussions to people who do that, intentionally or not. Since it's apparently not illegal, what about morality? Do moral concerns even apply, including possible harm to one's self and others? Does it matter if the false information is known to be false or if it is grounded in an honest mistake(s)?




By Germaine: The happy miscreant

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