Gullibility in the Age of Pandemic

The Buddha said: “…do not be led by reports, or tradition, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, nor by mere logic or inference, nor by considering appearances, nor by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities, nor by the idea: ‘this is our teacher’.(Kalama Sutta)

Sound advice. It is particularly crucial in the midst of a pandemic crisis. There are many reports of cures, speculations and conspiracy theories about this new disease. We cannot afford to be gullible during this critical time. The time to exercise reasonable skepticism, critical thinking and scientific reasoning is now.

A Facebook friend sent me a video, created by an investment manager of Arab origin. He is promoting a conspiracy theory of the coronavirus. This gentleman has no special training in medicine or science. But he makes the claim that China released the virus to benefit itself. He questions why the number of cases of infection in China is declining while the number of cases in the West is skyrocketing. Based on such discrepancy, he alleged that China released the new virus to destroy the West and gain an economic advantage.

This is an incendiary accusation. I am abhorred by his viciousness, ignorance and idiocy. The number of infections has been declining not just in China, but also in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore…