It seems like everyone has an idea of what the "truth" is regarding just about everything. These days stories, concepts or theories that deviate from "common knowledge" are passed off by most as conspiracy theories.
A few questions:
1. Where does "truth" or "common knowledge" come from?
2. Who decides what is "truth" or history?
3. Do you believe you are being told the whole "truth" about world events, your country's history or world history?
4. Do you even care about the "truth" or historical accuracy?
2007-12-05 03:22:41 · 3 answers · asked by Nizz 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Yun, thanks for the great answer. I was trying to get to the root of the "problem". That is, in your answer, "the idea".
How does an "idea" make it's way into the public consciousness in the first place? Where does it come from and why does one idea make it while other's don't?
I guess the question is who or what has the power to inject ideas into the mainstream conversation?
2007-12-05 03:49:59 · update #1
Common knowledge is decided by the fact that society, reasonably as a whole, or a large number of people, accept the idea.
What is truth? That depends on who you talk to. There is an increasing amount of people that think that truth is relative. When it comes to history, there is a truth because things have happened in the past, which means they don't change. The problem is that what people perceive as the truth can be wrong.
Do we know the real truth? About some things no, and we never will. In some areas the truth has been lost because the only sources of it have been destroyed, or never even recorded. Another problem is the increasing trend to modify history and how it is taught to fit the modern concept of political correctness or the persecution complex some people have.
Do I care about historical accuracy? Certainly. The only way to prevent some things from happening again is to know their real source and be able to stop those circumstances and causes from happening again.
2007-12-05 03:36:00 · answer #1 · answered by Yun 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. I believe that truth comes from either first-hand experience, as in factual events that have occurred, or from teachings that have been agreed upon as being based on fact (i.e. there is evidence).
2. As a whole, I think that society determines what is considered truth or being worthy of "history". It seems to be the majority that rules in the decision. Truth can be a relative notion.
3. No, I don't believe the whole and absolute truth can be told about world events unless you are there first hand to witness it. Even then, you may not understand the full circumstances of the event, such as what led to the events. I think people tend to add their own perceptions of what has happened to help fill in the blanks and to try to come to terms with what has happened in a way that makes sense to them.
4. I think it is important to have a general knowledge of truth and history, but one has to understand that truth and history are just an agreed upon account of what has happened. I suppose that a certain amount of skepticism should be allowed.
2007-12-05 03:57:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truth..... There is only one kind of truth. For example, a poodle is a dog. not a cat, or a bird, a dog.
History is an account of events that has happend from a year ago to a thousand years ago.
The truth is decided on what is real, not something that is simply said to be.
I care about the truth very, very much. However, finding it is the problem.
2007-12-05 03:36:52 · answer #3 · answered by Bethany 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋