What is Truth?

What is Truth?

"A Proposed Definition of Truth: In defining truth, it is first helpful to note what truth is not:

• Truth is not simply whatever works. This is the philosophy of pragmatism – an ends-vs.-means-type approach. In reality, lies can appear to “work,” but they are still lies and not the truth.

• Truth is not simply what is coherent or understandable. A group of people can get together and form a conspiracy based on a set of falsehoods where they all agree to tell the same false story, but it does not make their presentation true.

• Truth is not what makes people feel good. Unfortunately, bad news can be true.

• Truth is not what the majority says is true. Fifty-one percent of a group can reach a wrong conclusion.

• Truth is not what is comprehensive. A lengthy, detailed presentation can still result in a false conclusion.

• Truth is not defined by what is intended. Good intentions can still be wrong.

• Truth is not how we know; truth is what we know.

• Truth is not simply what is believed. A lie believed is still a lie.

• Truth is not what is publicly proved. A truth can be privately known (for example, the location of buried treasure).

The Greek word for “truth” is aletheia, which literally means to “un-hide” or “hiding nothing.” It conveys the thought that truth is always there, always open and available for all to see, with nothing being hidden or obscured. The Hebrew word for “truth” is emeth, which means “firmness,” “constancy” and “duration.” Such a definition implies an everlasting substance and something that can be relied upon. From a philosophical perspective, there are three simple ways to define truth: 1. Truth is that which corresponds to reality. 2. Truth is that which matches its object. 3. Truth is simply telling it like it is.

First, truth corresponds to reality or “what is.” It is real. Truth is also correspondent in nature. In other words, it matches its object and is known by its referent. For example, a teacher facing a class may say, “Now the only exit to this room is on the right.” For the class that may be facing the teacher, the exit door may be on their left, but it’s absolutely true that the door, for the professor, is on the right.

Truth also matches its object. It may be absolutely true that a certain person may need so many milligrams of a certain medication, but another person may need more or less of the same medication to produce the desired effect. This is not relative truth, but just an example of how truth must match its object. It would be wrong (and potentially dangerous) for a patient to request that their doctor give them an inappropriate amount of a particular medication, or to say that any medicine for their specific ailment will do.

In short, truth is simply telling it like it is; it is the way things really are, and any other viewpoint is wrong. A foundational principle of philosophy is being able to discern between truth and error, or as Thomas Aquinas observed, "It is the task of the philosopher to make distinctions." http://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-truth.html#ixzz2xmaNO9wo

Definition: "Truth, noun 1. the quality or state of being true. synonyms: veracity, truthfulness, verity, candor, honesty; accuracy, correctness, validity, factuality, authenticity..." (Google)

Two Questions: 1) What is Truth from your perspective? 2) Does Truth matter to you?

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Two Questions: 1) What is Truth from your perspective? 2) Does Truth matter to you?[/b]

Why have you capitalized the T in the word Truth twice in your question?

[1] Broadly speaking, I'd say that truth is a fact or set of facts that have been verified.

[2] Truth, as I have defined it here, matters to me in so far as it affects me and the reality in which I exist and operate.

Originally posted by FMF
Why have you capitalized the T in the word Truth twice in your question?

[1] Broadly speaking, I'd say that truth is a fact or set of facts that have been verified.

[2] Truth, as I have defined it here, matters to me in so far as it affects me and the reality in which I exist and operate.

Originally posted by FMF "Why have you capitalized the T in the word Truth twice in your question?" Accorded the word proper noun status since the OP is focused on "Truth" as well as to give it prominence. Thanks for christening the thread.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Originally posted by FMF "Why have you capitalized the T in the word Truth twice in your question?" Accorded the word proper noun status since the OP is focused on "Truth" as well as to give it prominence. Thanks for christening the thread.

But "truth" is not a proper noun.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
[I] accorded the word [truth] proper noun status since the OP is focused on "Truth" as well as to give it prominence.

If you are taking it upon yourself to change the "status" of the word ~ to something different from what it actually is ~ and to capitalize it incorrectly in order to give something or other about the word "prominence", surely it is beholden upon you to tell us what you think this unconventional "proper noun status" version of word means ~ with capital T and all ~ and then let us comment on whatever distortion or modification of the word that you actually intend or are attempting?

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
[b]What is Truth?

"A Proposed Definition of Truth: In defining truth, it is first helpful to note what truth is not:

• Truth is not simply whatever works. This is the philosophy of pragmatism – an ends-vs.-means-type approach. In reality, lies can appear to “work,” but they are still lies and not the truth.

• Truth is no ...[text shortened]... b]Two Questions:[/b] 1) What [i]is Truth from your perspective? 2) Does Truth matter to you?[/b]

I think instead of 'is not', the author should use 'may not'. Sometimes the truth IS defined according to several of the bullet points listed. The concept of 'true' applies to many different things.

Of course, if he used the more accurate 'may not', it would deprive his piece of some punch.

(Also, the statement 'truth is what we know' is not always correct. Sometimes what we know is false.)

I say that there are no absolute truth, only individual truths.
The truth is always relative to the one holding the truth in question.
The absolute truth we don't know anything about. Because if we did, it would immediately turn to be an individual truth.

Question: Can a fact be the truth if even the opposite of the fact also is a truth?

My usage of the word 'true' is twofold:
1. In logical statements, a statement is true if it is logically valid.
2. In references to reality, a statement is true if it accurately describes reality.

The difficulty of course comes in when you cannot know 2. Theists for example often claim to believe things that cannot be shown to be true or not true. In these cases I fall back on techniques such as skepticism, Occam's razor, probability etc whereas Theists go with gut feel, intuition, personal experience, tradition, and what they want to believe.

Originally posted by SwissGambit
I think instead of 'is not', the author should use 'may not'. Sometimes the truth IS defined according to several of the bullet points listed. The concept of 'true' applies to many different things.

Of course, if he used the more accurate 'may not', it would deprive his piece of some punch.

(Also, the statement 'truth is what we know' is not always correct. Sometimes what we know is false.)

2) Does Truth matter to you?

Originally posted by FabianFnas
I say that there are no absolute truth, only individual truths.
The truth is always relative to the one holding the truth in question.
The absolute truth we don't know anything about. Because if we did, it would immediately turn to be an individual truth.

Question: Can a fact be the truth if even the opposite of the fact also is a truth?

Wouldn't it seem that one is an apparent rather than an actual truth?

Originally posted by twhitehead
My usage of the word 'true' is twofold:
1. In logical statements, a statement is true if it is logically valid.
2. In references to reality, a statement is true if it accurately describes reality.

The difficulty of course comes in when you cannot know 2. Theists for example often claim to believe things that cannot be shown to be true or not true. In ...[text shortened]... ists go with gut feel, intuition, personal experience, tradition, and what they want to believe.

Your thoughts on Question 2?

Originally posted by twhitehead
My usage of the word 'true' is twofold:
1. In logical statements, a statement is true if it is logically valid.
2. In references to reality, a statement is true if it accurately describes reality.

The difficulty of course comes in when you cannot know 2. Theists for example often claim to believe things that cannot be shown to be true or not true. In ...[text shortened]... ists go with gut feel, intuition, personal experience, tradition, and what they want to believe.

1. In logical statements, a statement is true if it is logically valid.

Can you list me a set of logical steps to prove that logic leads to truth?
Can you do so without circular reasoning ?

Can you USE logic to prove that logic will lead you to truth without assuming that it does ?

Oh, can you respond to this post without only asking me a question in return ?

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Your thoughts on Question 2?

Of course it does.

Originally posted by sonship
Can you list me a set of logical steps to prove that logic leads to truth?

I think you have misunderstood me.
I never said logic leads to truth. I said I use the word 'true' in logic.
eg:
1. Suppose all cows are blue.
2. I have a cow.
3. My cow is blue.
Statement 3. is a true statement. This does not mean I actually have a cow in real life, nor does it mean that my cow in real life is blue.

Originally posted by twhitehead
I think you have misunderstood me.
I never said logic leads to truth. I said I use the word 'true' in logic.
eg:
1. Suppose all cows are blue.
2. I have a cow.
3. My cow is blue.
Statement 3. is a true statement. This does not mean I actually have a cow in real life, nor does it mean that my cow in real life is blue.

However, what messes this up is what has messed up the supposed 'logicians' in this forum before. You cannot end up with a true statement proved from a 'given' that is false.