I had a convo with some co-workers and they believe that truth is relative; basically, everyone has their own truth. I don't believe that it is. There has to be an absolute truth. Everyone's truth can't be the ultimate truth. I can say my truth is the sun won't rise tomorrow and someone can say that their truth is that their is no sun, but the absolute truth is that there is a sun and it's going to rise tomorrow. What do you guys think...
2007-11-16 09:59:36 · 25 answers · asked by Truth Rocks! 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Truth", by *definition*, is a thing which is true. Therefore, truth is *not* relative. There are, of course, things that are true from one perspective and not another, but this does not mean that truth is relative.
For example - let's pretend coffee tastes good to you. When you say, "Coffee tastes good", you would *appear* to be telling the truth. However, I loathe coffee. A *really* true statement from you would be "Coffee tastes good to me when its brewed correctly and fresh and I don't have some condition which alters my perception of taste in a negative manner." The first statement is *only* true for you in certain circumstances. In other words, that first statement is only conditionally true and cannot really be called "the truth" since the conditions are not apparent.
Similarly, other things. There *is* truth about things (for example, the sun is not at all stationary, but moving *very* quickly through space). Thus, it is false to say that the sun is stationary. It is even false to say that the sun is stationary about its center of mass - it is spinning. There is no "relative" here: the sun moves, regardless of whether someone is cognizant of that or not.
Conclusion: different perspective does *not* change the truth about things. *All* that changes with different perspective is the truth about *the way things are perceived* - not the truth of the thing itself.
Jim, http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com
2007-11-16 10:25:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is "formal" truth and there is factual truth. Nearly everything else, including "absolute truth", is speculation, wishful thinking, or some other "conditioned" statement parading as truth.
The first is a logical truth dependent on the form of the statement. The second is, of course, a statement that accurately reflects the reality, that is sensory data that is integral with the material/physical context observed.
Formal example: If A then B. A, therefore B.
Factual example: On the equator sun is overhead at noon. This can be verified by empirical observation.
Other things that appear to be truth, for example, "The sun will rise tomorrow." are really speculation. It may be that the sun does rise, but when the statement was made, it was speculation but not verifiable until the event takes place.
"Absolute Truth" when examined closely is entirely subjective. "I think, therefore I am" is about as absolute as I can imagine - but there's that subjectivity. As for cosmological absolutes, they are quite problematic in my view.
Yeah, that's quibbling, but truth is a quibbling kind of judgement.
2007-11-16 18:22:01 · answer #2 · answered by wordweevil 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are absolutely right. There is an overarching truth, just as there is an overarching morality. The idea that all truth is relative is nonsense. Ask your friend if all people, say between 100 ad and 1800 ad, died. They, of course, would say yes. Are they sure? Yes. That is an ultimate truth, without exception. Now, there may be some ultimate truth that can become relative due to an outside force or influence. For example, if you stand in the middle of the street and a car is coming, will you get hit? Yes. But is that ultimate truth? The car may swerve, may brake, someone may remove you, but, without those outside influences, the truth is, if you stand in front of a moving car, and nothing influences the car, the driver or you, it will hit you.
2007-11-16 18:12:11 · answer #3 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think you are reaching desperately with that explanation.
There is no absolute truth an absolute can be proved the sun exists is an absolute. Heck you can see it, feel it experience it, etc. 3+3=6 is an absolute.
Religious and spiritual truth is relative and not absolute. God can not be proved or disproved.
Religion and spirituality is not absolute truth it is based on faith and belief which is not an absolute at all that is why it is faith and belief.
However if it makes you feel better to believe you have absolute truth go ahead, just don't push your truth on me and we will be fine.
The only absolute truths there is are the ones based on tangible fact like if you stick your hand in the fire and leave it there you will get burned is an absolute truth based on the fact that fire burns. Fire is real, you can see it hear it feel it.
BB
2007-11-16 18:16:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolute truth can only be in God. It is therefore relative to man. The more truth you accept the closer you get to God. The more truth you reject the farther away you move. With much knowledge is much responsibility. The Spirit allows you only as close to the Throne as God knows you will be able to handle.
2007-11-16 18:04:18 · answer #5 · answered by Overseer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truth is not something --- it is somebody---Jesus the Christ. When those same people are in a desperate live or die situation and someone says they have the truth and it is their truth that is true and it is the only chance of them being saved--all of a sudden they will all believe in the absolute truth
2007-11-16 18:03:46 · answer #6 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is the post modern philosophy that all truth is relative to the individual and there is no absolute truth - as said in the Bible. It is the age old denial of Christ as the truth. Unfortunately this philosophy is allied to ethics and morals so that there is a slow continuing decline in both.
2007-11-16 18:04:48 · answer #7 · answered by cheir 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
convo lescence? oh, That's spelled with an a.
Actually I think the sun is pretty stable.
As far as truth goes, Jesus said, " I am the way the TRUTH and the life. No one can come to the father but by me."
2007-11-16 18:03:44 · answer #8 · answered by Gypsy Priest 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Truth is universal... But the truth is that the sun will stay stationary, and the earth will move and make it appear to rise... Just shows that what you believe to be the universal truth may not be correct.
2007-11-16 18:02:02 · answer #9 · answered by czekoskwigel 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I perceive that you are an alien from the x planets core and dine on imaginary goldfish crackers at dawn when the sunsets, therefore, that is the truth.
Oh puhlease. Truth is things as they really were, are and are to come regardless of the perception. You are correct.
2007-11-16 18:11:49 · answer #10 · answered by Someone who cares 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋