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What is Hypertruth?

 What is Hypertruth?


You may never have heard of hypertruth, but it is part of your life. It is how you are swayed. Hypertruths are prevalent in various domains, from advertising, marketing, politics, and personal endorsements. Often, it’s how and what you believe. Opportunists see it as a tool; clergy see it as a sermon; politicians see it as more votes.

Hypertruth is an excessive or exaggerated truth that can take an ordinary truth beyond its natural domain, even becoming false. As well, it may involve elevating or expanding a minor point into a major concept.  An example would be a cleric taking truths from the bible and reinterpreting and exaggerating them from statements of peace to those suggesting destruction and war. Centuries ago, the Inquisition followed the hypertruth of severe punishment to correct heresy. 

The current notion of “Cancel Culture” mimics such notions for political heresy, the shunning practice of some religions. Also, the politician may take accepted truths of equality amongst people into an outright theft or reappropriation of resources from one party in favor of another. In this way, socialism could be viewed as a hypertruth extension of egalitarianism. Cults are normally based on hypertruths. Indeed, Millerism of the 19th century was based on some calculation of the Second Advent of Jesus Christ would occur in roughly the year 1843–1844, and all activities were subjugated toward this eventuality. 

Alternatively, the capitalist may suggest that the company’s business success, which to workers is ultimately good, is so important that the entire nation depends upon it. Recall the (mis)statement, “What’s good for General Motors is good for America.”  Indeed, many capitalistic types believe in hypertruths about the sanctity of profits. In science, the hypertruths of Ptolemaic astronomy (i.e. epicycle) ruled the world for two millennia. Here are five very popular hypertruths we hear often.

·        "Superfood That Cures All Ills"

·        "The Greatest Movie Ever Made"

·        "This is the Most Important Election of Our Lifetime"

·        "Best in the World"

·        "This Skincare Routine is the Secret to Eternal Youth!"

Rabid belief is often associated with hypertruths. Not quite within the realm of post-truth*, hypertruths begin with those truths accepted and extend them toward a hyper-state.

* The term "post-truth," originating in about 2010, describes a cultural and political environment where objective facts and truth are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal beliefs. In a "post-truth" era, subjective feelings and opinions often take precedence over objective evidence and rational discourse. This is a recent term following the concept of postmodernism beginning in the mid-twentieth century. In 2016 it (post-truth) was entered into the Oxford Dictionary.

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