What is truth and what makes it true? It has been a slippery topic for thousands of years. It can depend on a point of view or an opinion or a theory. The basic idea is that what we believe or say is true if it corresponds to the way things actually are—to the facts. The problem is, we don’t always agree on how things actually are. For instance, is there global warming and if so, is it caused by the activity of the human race? What we perceive is not always what is happening. For example, does the sun go around the earth or does the earth go around the sun? Iron clad facts have been known to change into falsehoods.
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, used to be an oath given by a witness in a court room before testifying. You had to raise your right hand and place your left hand on the Bible. Did you know that practice has been done away with? Now, it is only necessary to make an affirmation to tell the truth to the best of your knowledge. Times are changing and so is the “truth”. During the Medieval period convicted felons were branded on the palm of the right hand. Thus the custom of displaying your right hand came into practice because felons were disqualified from making an oath.
Truth is the end of inquiry. But we never reach the end of inquiry. Truth is ever evolving and changing because of new discoveries and new facts. Keep that in mind before you call someone else’s truth a falsehood. Keep an open mind and be willing to consider another person’s point of view. Let’s be rational and civil!
Good points, Mr. Thinker. It is useful to apply them to the medical world. Remember that only 100 years ago, the "profession" was hardly better than a coterie of witchdoctors. The problem is not what they know or don't know, but what they think they know but really don't know.
ReplyDeleteTake medical advise with caution and consider choosing your own poison.
TsarPat
Dear Tsar,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Not long ago, doctors drilled holes in peoples' heads to relieve a head ache. Also, they would make you bleed to see if that would cure your ailment. I try to avoid doctors and hospitals because they can cause you to catch an incurable, deadly infection. It is best to use home remedies like gin and whiskey.
There is absolute truth, the statement of things as they really are, and we can know it in at least two ways. Here I shall use "fact" interchangable with "truth."
ReplyDeleteFirst, in we can use scientific method, observation of repeatable facts. This is seldom contested today as many people are Scientistic in their world view today. Second, we can know facts, without observing or repeating, by faith. The law uses this today. People are convicted of crimes by "circumstantial evidence," This is one widely used of determining truth without observation or repeatability. DNA evidence, invisible to nearly all people, both convicts and overturns convictions without seeing. The Christian religion uses evidence of testimony by eye witnesses as its prime way to both discover and convince truth. Most people accept this in many ways everyday. Do you trust your mechanic? If so you would simply say replace the brake pads if he said they were worn out. Ignorance of facts leads to mistakes or falsehoods without intent to harm. Ancients or Primitives drilling holes in peoples heads was based on error and ignorance of truth, and an observation that one person in the tribe, one time, showed signs of healing when it was done; an accidental discovery of a certain truth with an error in conclusions as a result. One does not always recognize the truth when it is clearly there.
Biker Bill