Whatever it is, how do you know it? What methods do you use to determine the truth or falsity of a statement?
2006-07-11 14:51:28 · 18 answers · asked by Tim 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I think for right now there is no verifiable statement about absolute truth as to whether or not it exists. For now, we have evidence, observation, experience and shared information to gather knowledge.
Truth and falsity of statements can be very subjective, depending on the subject matter. There are some statements that are observably true; "George Bush is the President of the United States."
Some we take as true even though we don't necesarily see it, like "everything is made of atoms."
Some people use faith to justify things they can't prove as truth, like "Jesus is the true way."
There are certain truths that are up for universal debate, like free will, but we hold true in society for practical reasons.
True is a spectrum filled with curiosity and subjectivity. Truth is not tangible, complete thing, but an exploration of common knowledge.
2006-07-11 15:24:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps the most common method to determine the truth or falsity is simply to determine if it produces the result(s) it claims to produce.
2006-07-11 22:02:55 · answer #2 · answered by Don H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By testing and re-testing your hypothesis. Are you really Tim? How do you know you are? Well, there is written evidence that is documented, perhaps. Then your friends all call you by that name, I presume. Once you've tested and re-tested to the point that you keep coming up with the same results, you can form an assumption that, yes, your name really is Tim. If your feedback doesn't change and is constant, then you can determine the truth or falseness of your hypothesis.
2006-07-11 22:01:43 · answer #3 · answered by sterling roses 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Experience, failure (as well as success), and actually doing scientific studies, meaning going and and obtaining proof that what you have is the actual definitive truth, so that there is no doubt that what you know is right.
2006-07-11 22:03:28 · answer #4 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i use the method of poliansky...that is i judge the enviromental logic of the statement and its true nature according to the ephimeral law of gravity and then i go to bed with him anyway...
2006-07-11 22:16:50 · answer #5 · answered by whoknows 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A vivid imagination and a quest for knowledge....and a disdain for the unknown
2006-07-11 21:55:07 · answer #6 · answered by Outman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You KNOW something once you have experienced it.
Whatever that is.
The rest is not knowledge, but a belief based on other people's experience.
2006-07-11 22:17:31 · answer #7 · answered by Aritmentor 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Common sense, knowledge, research, rationality.
2006-07-11 21:56:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Common sense- society accepted and established norms and boundaries.
2006-07-11 21:56:02 · answer #9 · answered by lidia s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Logic and common sense.
I also do a search for it
2006-07-11 21:56:40 · answer #10 · answered by Bill 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋