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Truth


truth

NOUN
[mass noun]
           Origin: Old English trīewth, trēowth ‘faithfulness, constancy’
1 The quality or state of being true.
‘he had to accept the truth of her accusation’
1.1 (also the truth) That which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.
‘tell me the truth’
‘she found out the truth about him’
1.2 [count noun] A fact or belief that is accepted as true.
‘the emergence of scientific truths’
‘the fundamental truths about mankind’

It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I extremely critical of the Trump Regime. However, if I am honest, I think that Donald Trump is a symptom a deeply divided society, not the cause of it.  

I have a new soapbox...

The fundamental, basic characteristic of this divide is our societies' tenuous relationship with the concept of TRUTH.  I'm not sure yet if this is a cause or symptom, but its deeply involved.  I decided to put some thought in to this and consider what we mean by TRUTH.
The definition that I started this post with comes from the OED and of itself is already problematic as it compounds to concepts that seem to me to be essentially at odds.  
     That which is demonstrably true.
     That which people say is true.

What is TRUTH? 

For the rest of this post, I'd like to discuss the first. I can think of three ways to classify this kind of truth and it is important to recognize that it is not necessary for these to overlap.  It fact, its key that they don't.  

Historical Truth

Things either happened or they did not.  They are a matter of historical record.  In today's highly monitored life, events are often recorded.  In the absence of manipulation,  these facts can be verified and authenticated...and should be.  They are not subject to interpretation or "spin". There are no such things as "alternative facts".  X people voted for one candidate or the other.  Y people attended a rally. Mr. Z said "ABC".  These facts should not be in dispute.  If they can be verified, they are true. 

Conceptual Truth

Especially in the field of science, concepts and theories that have consistently been shown to yield correct predictions are considered a kind of TRUTH.  They are not facts, they are demonstrably correct concepts.  I will have more to say about the scientific use of the words "law", "theory" and "hypothesis" in a subsequent post. However,  for the time being, consider that scientific theories are subject to popular vote or opinion.  They either are useful and generate correct results or they are false and don't. Thus, the theory of gravity, is pretty useful and correct most of the time, although its not strictly speaking comprehensively and absolutely true.  

Philosphical Truth 

Philosophical truth represents a more difficult category and may be subject to some debate.  Unlike Historical Truths and Conceptual Truths mentioned above, Philosophical Truths may be subject to opinion.  We would probably all agree it is morally wrong to kill someone for personal gain.  We all agree that freedom is a virtue.  There is less agreement whether abortion or homosexuality is morally wrong. 

What makes something true?

Things that support truth: 

  1. Facts
  2. Evidence
  3. Logic
  4. Testable hypotheses and experimental evidence

Things that do not support truth:

  1. How many people believe something. 
  2. How many times you say it. 
  3. How loud someone proclaims it. 
  4. Statement A is true of false independent of whether Statements B through Z are true are false. 
  5. The insulting names people who don't believe it are called. In fact, nothing about the people who believe or deny a truth is relevant.
  6. How powerful people who believe or proclaim a truth are. 
  7. The party or religious affiliation of someone proclaiming a truth
  8. Who has the gun.
  9. Who won. 

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