Three Tiers of Responses to Fact

Several hours ago, I engaged a friend on the topic of Highlife music — an iconic Ghanaian genre of pop music that became a thing in the early post-colonial era.

Our conversation drifted past several subjects, from the irony of another “white man” becoming an authority of our own recent musical history, to the dearth of scholarship and critical discourse around the arts by Ghanaians in the country (as compared to its flourishing practice) and finally, the development of a uniquely Ghanaian genre of choral music.

A few hours later, a post on X from a local social media influencer highlighted a point I made during our conversation. A reflection on that point now follows.

Three Tiers of Responses to Factual Statements

I partly blamed the lack of critical discussion of Ghanaian arts within the country to the prevalence of a tendency I’ve observed in public discourse; that most speakers are motivated by private political ends rather than a purer pursuit of Truth.

This tendency is found in all kinds of spaces, across all demographics, because it is a mundane, human trait to want to be right. It is, I believe, the norm, and taking note of this among public speakers in Ghana should not be seen as some expression of prejudice against these people.

But I am extremely judgemental about such motivations, and I put them at the lowest tier of responses to Fact.

Tier 0

At the lowest tier, facts are used as tools to justify arguments, to shore up positions and play at the social game. You do not need to be terminally online, on social media, to recognise this. It makes up most adult political life, the news, (unfortunately) academic and family interaction. At this level, facts do not actually matter. What is far more important is the preconceived end and how to get there.

The X post I referenced comes in the aftermath of an FBI investigation into a stolen car syndicate with led to the seizure of a luxury vehicle owned by one of Ghana’s leading artistes. It leans into the conversation around the economic potential of the Ghanaian music industry versus its Nigerian counterpart, picking the side that is skeptical about the success of some of this country’s biggest acts.

I tend to not have a lot of respect for conversation of this nature, at this level, but I must admit this big beautiful world we live in mostly runs on this. And there’s little anyone can (and should) do to rid us entirely of this annoyance. The attempt will be anti-human. We must live with ourselves.

Tier 1

Above that, facts become signposts toward pragmatic solutions. This is the world of engineering and policy: the making and designing of things toward some end.

At this level, facts actually matter. Pragmatics demand a much closer relationship with reality, and any process that can better delineate what is real and what is fancy has greater chance of survival. This is the brutal world of merit. What works, survives.

Pragmatics are guided by higher level (political?) goals, yet they are properly bounded by the constraints reality imposes. And they cannot (and should not) be selective when it comes to mapping out the real world.

There’s a certain honesty in this position that I find attractive: it accepts that material reality must be contended with, not cajoled, deceived or shamed into submission. It is the tier at which labour exist. It must show proof of work.

I could say a lot more about Tier 1, but its faithfulness to Truth is what wins me over, and leads me to the highest tier.

Tier 2

Here lies the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, devoid of practical or political application. This is the world of science and philos-sophia. It neither serves private or public political ends, nor does it look to make the world we inhabit materially better, or worse. It just is.

At this tier, usefulness is not a cherished concern. At the extreme (as my favourite math joke illustrates), it runs away from being applicable. But that is okay. Not everything needs to be immediately useful. They can be appreciated for what they are.

Press enter or click to view image in full size

I couldn’t find my favourite topical SMBC, so this will have to do. Sorry.

Now, to be fair…

…our complex selves relate with the world of Fact at all levels, depending on context and compulsion. And for good reason. We are human, after all. My primary observation is one of degree, scale and outcome. It is one of tendency, and what ensues.

My argument comes down to this: that the habit of mostly pursuing political ends in public conversation — winning arguments, validating dogma, saving face, growing a support base and scoring points — does not encourage an environment where discovering the nature of reality (and, maybe, what to do about it) becomes its highest good.

It reduces what could be enriching conversations to a team sport (worse, a political rally), and inspires tons of engagement and energy expenditure, going round and round a race track to come first — but going nowhere.

It’s fun, but it doesn’t seem like a worthwhile end in itself.

Anyway, that is one of the reasons for the status quo in public conversation around the arts in Ghana, by Ghanaians.

Addendum

Moments after publishing this, and moments before sending him the link, this same friend sent me a YouTube Short from the Prof Collins interview. By way of example, note the title and caption in the screenshot below.

Press enter or click to view image in full size

I thought this coincidence was hilarious. I couldn’t not share it. LMAO.

As a further exercise to the reader, watch the Short and observe the breakdown of conversation from Collins to the YouTuber to the comments section.