Criticizing a comforting false belief can harm more than it helps

Evidence

It gets downright problematic, if, as psychology professor Chris French points out, one criticizes from a scientific, skeptical perspective, ideas that give someone stability in life: “Such situations are difficult for skeptics, because often, we attack some cherished belief, a belief that gives someone great solace. Sure, one can say, one should learn to cherish the beauty and greatness of scientific understanding – but not everybody can do that.” Therefore, he held back his comments when the son of a university employee wanted to undergo mistletoe therapy as the last hope in uncurable cancer. — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 261

Categorization

• QUESTION: When does correcting a harmful-but-comforting belief cross from obligation into cruelty? This is a boundary case worth pursuing.
• SEED: Potential essay: the ethics of correcting beliefs that people are emotionally dependent on — where scientific duty ends and kindness begins.
• XREF: connects to: Correcting false beliefs can strengthen them rather than reduce them — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 350