People tend to treat truth as a tool. This means that, for them, truth is merely (and exclusively) a means of achieving personal happiness. This is especially evident in the distinction between science and technology. Science is concerned with investigating the universe, while technology is concerned with applying the results of that research to create useful tools that enrich our lives. This is why people place a high value on certain fields of science, such as medical research, which leads to the development of medicines, while showing less interest in others, such as space exploration, where the technological applications of knowledge may be less obvious.
Once a tool no longer serves its purpose, it is discarded in favor of another. In certain fields, particularly those related to the natural sciences, engineering, and medicine, "truth claims" must almost always correspond closely to reality in order to produce tangible benefits. It is not advantageous to believe that mercury can cure a disease, or that gasoline can extinguish a candle. Such beliefs are quickly and decisively abandoned in favor of those that more accurately reflect reality.
For example
The Internet
This is perhaps the best example of how people pursue pleasure rather than truth. Decades ago, it was commonly joked that with the advent of the internet, virtually every person on the planet would gain instant access to information and reach a very high level of general knowledge and intellectual awareness regarding current events and countless other subjects. Today, we can see that nothing could be further from the truth. People use the internet in ways that align with what makes them feel good, while avoiding information that would create cognitive dissonance.
