Im writing an extended definition paper on 'the truth' vs. 'a truth' and the effect of perception on the word 'truth'. I've narrowed do my question to that. Why do certain people insist on the existance of 'the truth' as if there is only one completely correct truth out there?
2006-12-13 10:35:25 · 11 answers · asked by jetglen 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
A person has a perception that "a truth" is "the truth" so therefore it is. Regardless if it directly contradicts another persons "truth" each is correct to themselves. So to each individual there is a truth. For example if a person looks outside and sees rain, but it is really someone with a Hollywood set rainmaker. To that person it is truly raining, although someone else can see it is not. "A truth" is therefore "the truth".
2006-12-13 10:41:16 · answer #1 · answered by SO 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Need of truth...interesting question.
Q. Are you having an affair with your coworker? A simple yes or no will work but in this situation we all know some people lie. The asker may "need" the truth to validate that what they see and feel are real and not in their imagination. Q. Do these pants make my *** look big? Again a simple yes or no will answer the question but for this question their is a third possible answer. The one that takes feelings into it and the relationship of the asker and the answerer will become part of it.
You can answer the question "Is it raining" with a "yes", a "no", an "I don't know", with "It seems to be" or with "It doesn't seem to be". The last two answers make it clear this answer is via your own perception of what rain is and no matter what you answer the asker is now going to believe or disbelieve you based upon your past voracity or their own blind faith.
I personally believe there is not a single human that is insistent upon giving and receiving the absolute truth for every situation. Between two people the absolute truth, a bottom line, is possible once both parties have perceived an agreement that all other possible answers are incorrect. Your integrity as others see it is based upon whether you are a truth teller and follow the rules set down by society or if you are a liar and choose to blaze your own trail.
2006-12-13 12:00:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm mildly confused by this... but if i understand enough to answer well, then ther is only one truth for every question. It's a matter of beleif, not truth, where it becomes "a 'truth'" and not "the truth". A "truth" would be that there is a god and heaven and hell. Another would be that we are reborn into new bodies, or any other theory as to what happens after death. There is only one truth to that, but we do not know the truth, only what we beleive is the truth. And as for anyone who would argue "if you beleive it is real, it is" it doesn't matter how hard you beleive in the easter bunny/tooth fairy, ain't never gonna be real. God and the afterlife are in that same category.
In short, there is only one truth, but many beleifs in which many take as truth. i hope that helps you a bit, but at least I tried.
2006-12-13 11:05:34 · answer #3 · answered by mandy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people think their own experience and what they see through there own eyes is the one and only truth. But, if, each of us sees truth through our own eyes, there are nearly infinite perspectives on truth. Only an all-seeing God could grasp all those perspectives to understand the whole truth. We are limited by our individuality and biases. Just ask any police man, at any accident or crime scene, it is very rare for two people to see the same thing, although that's what they were all looking at!
2006-12-13 11:07:34 · answer #4 · answered by Susan M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm fairly sure there is. Object reality is the truth. The rest is perspective. Although perspective truths can be just as sufficial speaking that they mentally serve the same purpose as a universal truth.
2006-12-13 10:43:53 · answer #5 · answered by Answerer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people need "The Truth" because they are mathematically minded - in math there is only one right answer (they are probably left-brained).
Others only require "A Truth" because they are more english-minded - in an english class, more than one answer can be considered accurate (they are typically going to be right brained).
2006-12-13 10:43:20 · answer #6 · answered by Her Majesty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems to me that we try to remove abstractions and ambiguities from our lives so we can better deal with reality. Perhaps the concept of "truth"--whatever it really is--is something we invent to appease our personal discomforts when we confront difficult aspects of identity and reality. As amorphous, illusory and as invented as it may be, perhaps truth affords us a cooler, calmer sense of self that we need to confront reality in a mature way.
2006-12-13 10:40:19 · answer #7 · answered by Gary 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a Religeon thing. As we can't explain things we simply say God did it and that's the end of that. The unfortunate extension of this way of thinking is that it's mis-applied in scientific settings. Add the human condition and you're there. " I'm right your not and nobody else is either". Follow me?
2006-12-13 10:52:09 · answer #8 · answered by Ricky J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some things there is only one answer, but for most there is not because it is based upon human interpretation and situational experiences. But no matter what, there are those in this world who are straight black and white in their thinking with no grey area and in their eyes, it either is or it isnt and you can't make them think any other way.
2006-12-13 10:41:22 · answer #9 · answered by â¤??? ?å???? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a symbolism that they are right. Everyone wants to be right as opposed to wrong.
2006-12-13 11:16:33 · answer #10 · answered by Laela (Layla) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋