How to Fake the Numbers

A Tale of Manipulating Data to Reinforces Existing Ideologies, Blurring the Line Between Fact and Fiction and Influencing Public Response, Policy, and Psyche.

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In the historical narrative preceding our current crisis, the governance of civilizations was not predicated on the quantitative rigor of numerical data but was instead deeply rooted in the rich fabric of storytelling. These stories, which began as mythological and religious narratives, evolved over time into sophisticated political discourses. However, the advent of technocractic ideology challenged this reliance on narrative, criticizing it for its inherent subjectivity and irrationality. This school of thought contends that stories, inherently subjective and malleable in their nature, offer more insight into the minds of their creators than into any objective reality they purport to represent.

The technocratic view posits that narratives, constructed from words whose meanings are fluid and open to interpretation, lack the definitive and factual grounding necessary for sound governance. This perspective suggests that such reliance on narratives could lead humanity down a path of error and misjudgment.

Moreover, it is crucial to acknowledge that narratives throughout history have often been manipulated to serve the interests of their authors, leading to significant abuses of power and tragic outcomes. The silent tragedies of the ritualistic burning of widows in India and the recent execution and raping of Jewish women stand as somber examples. These events are representative of a broader historical pattern where societies, guided by the subjective and irrational nature of stories, spiral into cycles of injustice and grotesque atrocities. This progression from reliance on narrative to a descent into irrationality and injustice is a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in a governance model that eschews empirical data in favor of subjective storytelling.

The COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly paved the way for the ascendancy of mechanistic ideology, seizing upon the collective uncertainty and fear engendered by the virus. This period marked a paradigm shift towards a data-driven societal model, where critical decisions pivoted from narrative-based approaches to one firmly anchored in quantifiable metrics. Currently, the discourse is centered around ostensibly straightforward data — infection rates, hospital admissions, and mortality figures. However, the horizon points towards a future where sophisticated biometric data could comprehensively chart every nuance of human physiology.

In contrast to the ambiguity of language, numbers provide a foundation for decision-making that is transparent, objective, and rational. This shift towards a data-centric paradigm promises a bulwark against the misuse of power and the horrific outcomes born from such abuses. Furthermore, it holds the potential to significantly reduce human suffering, aligning with the vision of a future society grounded in rationality and precision.

In this context, the coronavirus crisis may be perceived not merely as a global challenge but as a pivotal moment in the evolution of humanity towards a more rational, data-driven existence. This narrative posits the pandemic as a catalyst for a profound transformation in societal governance — a narrative that merits cautious examination.

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