The Tradition of Veracity

In the Iranian culture there is a tradition for scholars that I call, “ The Tradition of Veracity”.

It obliges scientists, scholars or philosophers to follow any statement they make either by

expounding and demonstrating a method of proof; or by outlining a method of proof for the listeners.

The listeners then have the option of initiating an effort of their own later to prove the statement to

themselves and others and at their own pace, timing and level of effort.

Naturally, the culture has extended this expectation from scholars to all other forms of authority: political, religious, medical, social, etc.

Now there was an Iranian scholar, some time ago, studying a manuscript late at night under a candle light while huddled on his sheep skin and under which he kept all his belongings! He read in the manuscript that “Whoever was tall, bald and had a long beard was a fool”. He was too lazy to get up, too scholarly to ignore the proof and too impatient to wait.

He decided to at least test the statement on the closest subject at hand – himself. He carefully looked at himself, and he was tall, and there was nothing he could do about that.

He touched his head and there was not one single hair to be found – certainly he was bald. That could not be undone or reversed either!

He touched his beard. He had one , and , worst yet, it was long.

The statement unnerved him. He decided to shorten his beard. He fumbled under the sheep skin for a razor, scissors or another sharp implement to shorten the beard. He could not find one and he was lazy to get up. He saw the candle, and it could do the job! He decided to use the candle and burn his beard short!

He picked up the candle and reached for his beard. Before he knew it there was an explosion of sorts around his face. His beard caught fire, burned his face, and blisters and blood showed up on his lips, forehead and cheeks!

He picked up his pen, underlined the sentence in the manuscript, and wrote on the edge, as was customary in old times: “ This statement was experimentally verified.”

H. Hemami,

February 20, 2009