2007-02-18 14:25:26 · 9 answers · asked by tercellulite 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I think in some instances, yes. For instance if you take the order of operations used in math...you must perform things in a certain way to get the acceptable answer. I believe the old mnemonic device is PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally - or Paranthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Adding, Subtracting). Anyhoo, if you work an algebraic expression following PEMDAS, you will get what the math community refers to as the true answer. You could do the problem in another way; however what ever answer you get is considered incorrect.
Therefore, it is the general consensus of the math gods that you must follow the order of operations to get the TRUE answer.
There are other instances of truth that are completely true. For instance, if you take 6x6, you get 36. It doesn't matter if you say 6+6+6+6+6+6...you still get 36. If you divide 36 by 6, you still get 6. That's obvious truth.
Clear as mud? :-)
2007-02-18 14:36:32 · answer #1 · answered by robinc1117 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It could be - if the mass opinion happens to be correct.
Many philosophers believe that "truth" is absolute. This does not mean we can know what that absolute "truth" is.
In every day practical terms what people believe is true is simply what MOST people believe is right or correct about one thing or the other. But then, when was the last time you heard of any large number of people all agreeing on any one thing?
There is "truth", but we humans are just always in search of it. Perhaps never quite getting hold.
Consensus of opinion is hardly ever truth - except in the eyes of the agreeing beholders.
2007-02-18 22:41:47 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel J 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No it can not be. If 1+1=2 and the majority (Even 100 out of 100 people agree) have a consensus that 1+1=10 than their consensus which is unanimous is false. Thus truth is truth regardless of consensus.
Or to put it another way truth has no direct relation to consensus even when consensus agrees with truth. For it consensus agrees with truth, truth gains nothing and is uncharged and if consensus dis agrees with the truth it is equally unchanged.
So, truth is independent of consensus.
PS I am sick of this crap that American Teacher keep teaching in the public schools-who thought the earth was flat? Give me a primary source for it. You can't because its a historic myth. Its not true. Homer had it hanging from a rope(he was not right),The Bible (the book of Job: has a spherical earth "hanging upon nothing".-we know this now to be true.) In Plato, Socrates describes a spherical earth and space. Salas comments on one being able to see the mast of a sail boat before the boat because the earth is a sphere. and on and on. Please stop spreading this myth. No one thought the earth was flat.
2007-02-18 22:35:07 · answer #3 · answered by sean e 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the "truth" like beauty is in the mind of the beholder, what is true to one person may well be false to another, for instance in religion, all religions believe there is a god or gods, but christians do not believe in allah, therefore he is an untruth, and muslims do not believe in the christian god, therefore he is an untruth to them, but both believe their gods to be true in their eyes. There are many instances of these truths and untruths which occur in every persons life each day, it is up to the individual to believe the truth as he percieves it, An American citizen will believe he lives in the land of the free, yet how free is he to an aboriginal tribesman who has no-one tell him what to do, or take taxes from him? but makes his own life decisions with no recriminations from society. Which position is true there? In modern society we have many opinions and choices given to us, it is up to the individual to select that which he believes to be true.
2007-02-18 22:42:35 · answer #4 · answered by a1ways_de1_lorri_2004 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
NO. Remember, people used to believe the Earth was flat. Truth is, supposedly, based on facts that can be verified by more than one observer. For example: If a group of people jumped off of a cliff, not one of them would have a plausible case against gravity, would they?
2007-02-18 22:36:00 · answer #5 · answered by knight2001us 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Truth, consensus, and opinion are three entirely unrelated subjects.
2007-02-18 22:29:23 · answer #6 · answered by damndirtyape212 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
well, relativists would tell you it is. I'm sort of inclined to both agree...and disagree...one mans truth is another mans lie. However, one Christians truth is another Muslims lie...hmm...seems to me as though there is no "truth"...I'd agree that democracy, the US's "truth" is a consensus of opinion...however, enforced democracy..what seems to be our foreign policy, is not....
Wow...circles inside circles...making my head ache!
2007-02-18 22:37:34 · answer #7 · answered by aidan402 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Truth is the simple common reality of a (insert noun)
2007-02-18 22:34:21 · answer #8 · answered by Bye Bye 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
there is a lie or a truth..it's not more complicated than that.
2007-02-22 20:18:17 · answer #9 · answered by flirl1027 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋