What is the difference between facts and the truth?
2007-03-27 04:44:53 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Facts are backed up by evidence, which seems to be sometimes the only thing humans will trust in.
The truth is something coming from the heart or the head, if you are telling a lie it's not coming from the heart.
There isn't really a difference between them because you could say facts are the truth.
2007-03-27 04:50:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Facts are indisputable and usually quantifiable - as in "I have two eyes" or "Over five hundred participated in the marathon."
The truth, though comprising facts also, ventures into a gray area of subjectivity as well and is usually recognizable by qualitative description. For instance, let's say that I'm twenty-years-old. To a kindergartner, I'd be practically ANCIENT. An octogenarian, on the other hand, would consider me a mere child. Yet, there still exists some level of universality to truth because there's a range within which we perceive something more or less in the same manner. Thus, we could define truth as "something accepted as factual/non-fictional by a relatively large quantity of people."
Think of it this way - facts are truths, but truths are not always facts. Truths are subjective, facts are not. Jack is 20. That is indisputable. Grandma Nellie thinks Jack is young, whereas Todd the toddler thinks Jack old. Jack can thus be considered either young or old, depending on perspective.
Hope this answers your question. Cheers!
2007-03-27 05:47:02 · answer #2 · answered by tigertrot1986 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Facts are things that are known to exist or to have happened; reality; actuality, authenticity.
There is no single definition of truth about which the majority of people agree, and numerous theories of truth continue to be widely debated. There are many differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth, how to define and identify truth, what roles do revealed and acquired knowledge play, and whether truth is subjective, relative, objective, or absolute.
In my opinion: Facts can be shown, but truth is a matter of opinion.
2007-03-27 06:08:21 · answer #3 · answered by Sue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The difference is pure semantics.
Neither one actually exist in objective terms. Truth is whatever you make it, and facts are just individual elements of that.
Both are terms used and abused by people trying to force their own opinions on others...
Just remember though that all "knowledge" is based on mere consistancy.... and none of it is absolute. Take any chain of "proof" back far enough and you will eventually come to an assumption taken as axiomatic and completely unjustified.... something assumed to be true because everyone -seemed- to see it the same way.
Facts are just "truth" about individual cases... and the truth is whatever the sweet heck you want it to be.
2007-03-27 04:58:17 · answer #4 · answered by Nihilist Templar 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Truth will always set us free but facts can be right or wrong. We may agree or disagree to facts but truth sets us on a right course of action no matter what.
2007-03-27 06:27:17 · answer #5 · answered by Chief of sinners 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Facts are confirmed observations of permanent or semi-permanent conditions. Fact: Earth orbits around the sun; Fact: Sacremento is the capitol of California.
There is life on Mars is not a FACT, it is a THEORY. It hasn't been proven yet.
All FACTS are true (or else it wouldn't be a fact).
Truth is proven or confirmed information. Is it true that Joe likes hamburgers? It is not true until it has been proven or confirmed.
Truth is variable while facts are consistant.
2007-03-27 06:27:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What gets you through a bad feeling moment that you just do not feel comfortable being in for any length of time. ( TRUTH),
What has given you the answer to a problem ( TRUTH) what leads your life through amazement's ( TRUTH). How do you know you have been forgiven when you make a not so good choice? ( TRUTH ).
2007-03-27 05:06:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Truth is rooted in logical inference and the laws of non-contradiction.
I think therefore I am. I am a thing that thinks is indisputable. Therefore it is true. ergo,Truth comes from comprehensible conclusions of rational thought.
Facts can only verify some things quantitatively and the data can be used according to personal bias.
2007-03-27 06:54:09 · answer #8 · answered by Who's got my back? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on what method you use, if you use the only method I know of; "The five human senses" you know truth to be different than those that claim to have a 6th sense that gives them information of another kind. Here is where the argument begins.
If I claim to have a sixth sence that no one else has, I don't have to prove anything. This is the nature of "faith".
2007-03-27 07:14:49 · answer #9 · answered by Real Friend 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Facts are proved, the truth is known
2007-03-27 04:52:23 · answer #10 · answered by Princess 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋