I just read in an answer to one of my questions, "absolute power corrupts absolutely." I am not saying that it cannot be true but it does have counterexamples. So do phrases like, "time is money," and many others. Should we accept things as truth simply because they are social mantras?
2007-05-21 20:00:58 · 13 answers · asked by trueblue88 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
A very good point. And yes, people accept all kinds of things, for that very reason. It's pretention, plain and simple. Accept nothing as truth simply because "it just is". Think for yourself, use logic and reason, draw your own conclusions, and form your own opinions.
2007-05-21 20:07:08 · answer #1 · answered by Master Maverick 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This question contains a lot of depth which cannot be explained by one post. Society has standards that everyone is expected to represent. Truth (with a capital t) is the real truth, the God known truth, while truth (with lowercase t) is the truth as society accepts, which is not necessarily accurate.
In the past, people have accepted things as the way that they are mostly because it was internalized into them at a young age; thus, they will simply repeat what they have heard over and over again.
We should accept truth to some extent, but when there's conflicting concepts, people must try their best to find the Truth. Truth is a utopian goal, which results in many other truths.
2007-05-22 03:07:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
STAR question!!
We have a fundamental right to differ... even with what is generally accepted by the society, but that amounts to revolt which leads to its own consequences often not so palatable to the one who revolts. Having said that, it must also be recognized that the society is not all that rigid and its truths and norms do undergo change and every major change does call for a revolt to have commenced by one person and backed up by a majority in due course of time. You can thus make your choice... go along with the society and be comfortable... OR revolt which may either change the society to your way or break you!!
2007-05-22 03:29:51 · answer #3 · answered by small 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should not accept anything fully unless you can test it, or come up with an experiment of it yourself. Some truths are relative and are only true to the individual not the whole. Read "Prometheus Rising" by Robert Anton Wilson to really get into this philosophy. It's a complicated book but I think worth the read.
2007-05-22 03:14:31 · answer #4 · answered by J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes we do. As social beings we want to fit in and we want to be accepted. Both formal control (laws and regulations) and informal control (social taboos, norms) guide and determine our behavior. It seems that everyone in this society accepts things as truth because they do not bother to research and find the truth themselves. I would advise to take everything with a grain of salt and not believe a thing you hear. Form your own opinions and do your research. You will feel much more grounded in your opinions when you have data to back up your claims in any argument or conversation.
2007-05-22 03:08:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, as the media has proven, the spoken and written word is rarely outweighed by the truth.
It is a confusing world of misinformation in which we live. Who knows the truth between two people, except for those two people?? Speculation and gossip have become a mainstay in our society.
I hope for the future of our humanity that we consciously choose to raise the bar for truth telling and fact gathering.
Sadest part of all...we all lie to ourselves.
2007-05-22 03:11:40 · answer #6 · answered by thomndhani 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No we shouldn't but we often do.
I've got a link if you are interested.
http://www.supremelaw.org/authors/gould/part03.htm
Here's a quote from the page about what we believe and why, it fits the idea of accepting things as true because society say so.
# You tend to believe most strongly that which you hear first.
# If you change, it will most likely be to that which you hear repeated many times.
# You next tend to believe that which you want to believe or that which fits your already conceived ideas or notions.
# Lastly, humans are least likely to believe that which is logical and makes sense, especially if it contradicts what they hear most!
2007-05-22 03:29:46 · answer #7 · answered by --- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not tread on the word "truth" so easily, truth, as we know it, can not exist without "lie" or "false".
Our world, however, have a knack of steering itself into harmony, in your case, sayings such as "time is money" might not be a "absolute" truth, but a most efficient way of life if you do choose to believe.
2007-05-22 05:32:53 · answer #8 · answered by None 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time is money,money is time.That is a simple phrase everyone knows.My answer whould be,that no one thinks alike,it all depends on the person themself.What they believe.Everyone makes a decision on what they wanna believe.
2007-05-22 03:15:44 · answer #9 · answered by dew80 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, i don't trust society or anything that's said because i've lost all trust in society and people!
2007-05-22 03:12:20 · answer #10 · answered by ~Twisted Sister~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋