Lie-to-children
Encyclopedia
A lie-to-children, sometimes referred to as a Wittgenstein's ladder (see below), is an expression that describes the simplification of technical or difficult-to-understand material for consumption by children. The word "children" should not be taken literally, but as encompassing anyone in the process of learning about a given topic, regardless of age. It is itself a simplification of certain concepts in the philosophy of science
.
Because life and its aspects can be extremely difficult to understand without experience
, to present a full level of complexity to a student or child all at once can be overwhelming. Hence elementary explanations tend to be simple, concise, or simply "wrong" — but in a way that attempts to make the lesson
more understandable. Sometimes the lesson can be qualified, for example by claiming "this isn't technically true, but it's easier to understand". In retrospect the first explanation may be easy to understand for its inaccuracies, but it will be replaced with a more sophisticated explanation which is closer to "the truth". This "tender introduction" concept is an important aspect of education
.
Such statements are not usually intended as deceptions, and may, in fact, be true to a first approximation or within certain contexts. For example Newtonian mechanics, by modern standards, is factually incorrect, as it fails to take into account relativity
or quantum mechanics
, but it is still a valuable and valid approximation to those theories in many situations.
(2000),
co-authored and partly based on ideas created by Terry Pratchett
, and in The Collapse of Chaos
(1994) and Figments of Reality
(1997), both by the other two co-authors of The Science of Discworld, Ian Stewart
and Jack Cohen
.
The definition given in The Science of Discworld is as follows. "A lie-to-children is a statement that is false, but which nevertheless leads the child's mind towards a more accurate explanation, one that the child will only be able to appreciate if it has been primed with the lie". The authors acknowledge that some people might dispute the applicability of the term lie, while defending it on the grounds that "it is for the best possible reasons, but it is still a lie".
The reference to children seems at first to be literal, as the authors use different phrases for cases that involve adult audiences (for example they say of themselves "we belong to another, equally honorable profession: Liar-to-readers"). Later in the book, however, the term "lie-to-children" is used to include all examples of the pedagogical strategy, without reference to the age or composition of the audience. This inclusive usage can be understood as a metonymic
extension of the literal sense, or as a self-demonstration, the early definition being a lie-to-children itself, implicitly refined to the "more accurate explanation" by its broader use later.
by the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein
, which reads:
, coriolis-in-the-bathtub).
The Buddhist version of Wittgenstein's ladder is Upaya
(translated "expedient means"). Plato's version is The Noble Lie. While Upaya or the Noble Lie can be (as in Wittgenstein) teaching devices or stratagems to be superseded at a later stage, in many cases the laity only ever learns the exoteric doctrine, with only the elite ever learning the true esoteric version.
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
.
Because life and its aspects can be extremely difficult to understand without experience
Experience
Experience as a general concept comprises knowledge of or skill in or observation of some thing or some event gained through involvement in or exposure to that thing or event....
, to present a full level of complexity to a student or child all at once can be overwhelming. Hence elementary explanations tend to be simple, concise, or simply "wrong" — but in a way that attempts to make the lesson
Lesson
A lesson is a structured period of time where learning is intended to occur. It involves one or more students being taught by a teacher or instructor...
more understandable. Sometimes the lesson can be qualified, for example by claiming "this isn't technically true, but it's easier to understand". In retrospect the first explanation may be easy to understand for its inaccuracies, but it will be replaced with a more sophisticated explanation which is closer to "the truth". This "tender introduction" concept is an important aspect of education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
.
Such statements are not usually intended as deceptions, and may, in fact, be true to a first approximation or within certain contexts. For example Newtonian mechanics, by modern standards, is factually incorrect, as it fails to take into account relativity
Theory of relativity
The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
or quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
, but it is still a valuable and valid approximation to those theories in many situations.
Origin
The term appeared in the book The Science of DiscworldThe Science of Discworld
The Science of Discworld is a 1999 book by novelist Terry Pratchett and popular science writers Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen. Two sequels, The Science of Discworld II: The Globe and The Science of Discworld III: Darwin's Watch, have been written by the same authors.The book alternates between a...
(2000),
co-authored and partly based on ideas created by Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
, and in The Collapse of Chaos
The Collapse of Chaos
The Collapse of Chaos: discovering simplicity in a complex world is a book about chaos theory written by biologist Jack Cohen and mathematician Ian Stewart....
(1994) and Figments of Reality
Figments of Reality
Figments of Reality: The Evolution of the Curious Mind is a book about the evolution of the intelligent and conscious human mind by biologist Jack Cohen and mathematician Ian Stewart....
(1997), both by the other two co-authors of The Science of Discworld, Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart (mathematician)
Ian Nicholas Stewart FRS is a professor of mathematics at the University of Warwick, England, and a widely known popular-science and science-fiction writer. He is the first recipient of the , awarded jointly by the LMS and the IMA for his work on promoting mathematics.-Biography:Stewart was born...
and Jack Cohen
Jack Cohen (scientist)
Jack Cohen, FIBiol is a British reproductive biologist also known for his popular science books and involvement with science fiction.-Life:...
.
The definition given in The Science of Discworld is as follows. "A lie-to-children is a statement that is false, but which nevertheless leads the child's mind towards a more accurate explanation, one that the child will only be able to appreciate if it has been primed with the lie". The authors acknowledge that some people might dispute the applicability of the term lie, while defending it on the grounds that "it is for the best possible reasons, but it is still a lie".
The reference to children seems at first to be literal, as the authors use different phrases for cases that involve adult audiences (for example they say of themselves "we belong to another, equally honorable profession: Liar-to-readers"). Later in the book, however, the term "lie-to-children" is used to include all examples of the pedagogical strategy, without reference to the age or composition of the audience. This inclusive usage can be understood as a metonymic
Metonymy
Metonymy is a figure of speech used in rhetoric in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept...
extension of the literal sense, or as a self-demonstration, the early definition being a lie-to-children itself, implicitly refined to the "more accurate explanation" by its broader use later.
Wittgenstein's ladder
The term Wittgenstein's ladder stems from proposition number 6.54 in the acclaimed philosophical work Tractatus Logico-PhilosophicusTractatus Logico-Philosophicus
The Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is the only book-length philosophical work published by the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein in his lifetime. It was an ambitious project: to identify the relationship between language and reality and to define the limits of science...
by the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. He was professor in philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1939 until 1947...
, which reads:
Related concepts and aspects
The boundary is fuzzy between widespread misconceptions versus lies-to-children. One significant difference is that genuine misconceptions are resistant to further instruction, and are often believed firmly (sometimes passionately) by adults. On the other hand, students will easily recognize and discard the lies-to-children as more advanced concepts are acquired. Another significant difference is that a lie-to-children will tend to be an approximation of the truth (e.g., acceleration due to gravity=10 m/s²) while a misconception will often simply be wrong (e.g. tongue taste mapTongue map
The tongue map or taste map is a common misconception that different sections of the tongue are exclusively responsible for different basic tastes. It is illustrated with a schematic map of the tongue, with certain parts of the tongue labeled for each taste...
, coriolis-in-the-bathtub).
The Buddhist version of Wittgenstein's ladder is Upaya
Upaya
Upaya is a term in Mahayana Buddhism which is derived from the root upa√i and refers to a means that goes or brings one up to some goal, often the goal of Enlightenment. The term is often used with kaushalya ; upaya-kaushalya means roughly "skill in means"...
(translated "expedient means"). Plato's version is The Noble Lie. While Upaya or the Noble Lie can be (as in Wittgenstein) teaching devices or stratagems to be superseded at a later stage, in many cases the laity only ever learns the exoteric doctrine, with only the elite ever learning the true esoteric version.
See also
- Naïve physicsNaïve physicsNaïve physics or folk physics is the untrained human perception of basic physical phenomena. In the field of artificial intelligence the study of naïve physics is a part of the effort to formalize the common knowledge of human beings....
- PedagogyPedagogyPedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
- White lie
- List of common misconceptions
- UpayaUpayaUpaya is a term in Mahayana Buddhism which is derived from the root upa√i and refers to a means that goes or brings one up to some goal, often the goal of Enlightenment. The term is often used with kaushalya ; upaya-kaushalya means roughly "skill in means"...
- Noble LieNoble lieIn politics a noble lie is a myth or untruth, often, but not invariably, of a religious nature, knowingly told by an elite to maintain social harmony. The noble lie is a concept originated by Plato as described in the Republic.-Plato's Republic:...
External links
- C2: All Models Are Wrong, Some Models Are Useful
- C2: Useful Lie
- C2: Wittgenstein's Ladder
- C2: Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen. ISBN 0-684-81886-8