In todays world, opinions are usually justified or defended with studies. That can apply to the entire Weltbild of a person. There are so many studies available today that one could build a Weltbild entirely without ever leaving the desk or reading chair.
Where do all these studies come from? Who invests all the time and work? For sure there will be one or two studies covering those questions. And what is our understanding of a study? What do we demand, what do we expect from a study? It is supposed to look at something and present a result. It shall be carried out in accordance with a scientific method. And science is generally expected to be committed to the truth.
Unfortunately, the truth has no money. And most scientists do not work unsalaried for the truth, but receive money from public or private organizations and companies. And they need it to pay for their bills and feed their families. Studies are commissioned and paid for. Public funds no longer support research using a scattergun approach. Money must be applied for and the intention and value of the research must be estimated in advance. Elite universities are chosen and discuss how to ensure good research.
There is hope that todays scientific method delivers true results in accordance with reality independent of the researchers worldview and the sponsors interests. I would not be surprised if there are some studies that claim exactly that. I would also not be surprised if there are other studies who are more skeptical about this. Overall I am under the impression that there is a study for almost every opinion one could have. So we can always feel validated.
There are certainly studies that are carried out unprejudiced and without the intention to get a specific result. Studies looking for truth to the best of the researches knowledge and belief. Still, the worldview of the researchers will reflect in the study. That in itself is difficult to avoid and nothing to complain about. As a consumer of the study it is my responsibility to show interest in the perspective of those who carried it out and the intentions of those who financed it. There could be studies made with the intention to confirm an existing belief. There could be studies financed with the intention to promote a product, an ideology or a political project.
An obvious attempt to try and resolve this dilemma is some kind of quality assurance system for studies. They could be examined by certified organizations, published in renowned scientific papers, benefit of the good reputation of a university or institute or person. This way, studies will quickly become a matter of trust. I have already touched this topic in one of the very first posts on this blog: “In God We Trust”.
If I build my understanding of the world, my Weltbild, based on studies alone, then there is a risk that it will grow in accordance with some ideology. Popular ideologies usually match the interests of people with a lot of money, who are happy to invest in studies to be more convincing. For a long time, they have build and financed a system establishing a worldview that makes it possible to push through their interests. With our scientific research, we have dived deep into a very one-sided observation of the world. Truth on the other hand is entirely penniless. It is dependent on the interest of every single human being. Only when I build my Weltbild using my own observations and my own ability to gain knowledge can I expect a result that matches reality.