Whenever a philosopher hears the word “truth” used in a conversation, their ears prick up like a meerkat. It is, after all, such a loaded term. It is the ultimate authority, and it is usually wielded in debate so that the arguers point cannot be denied: it is as if the truth wielder is a Nazgûl ; never come between a Nazgûl and its prey. However, truth can be used in different contexts, and not all truths are equally valuable. Yet, my friends, I should define the word! Truth can be defined as:
1) The true or actual state of a matter: he tried to find out the truth.
2) Conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement.
3) A verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.
4) The state or character of being true.
5) Actuality or actual existence.
What is disappointing with these definitions is that it doesn’t differentiate between objective and subjective truths. Nevertheless, the definitions do suggest a context: context, as we all know, is vital. The mathematical definition inspires my synapses to fire! Stirred into reflection whilst sitting in my middle class pyjamas, drinking my middle class tea, even a squire of pride such as myself has to concede that the mathematical truth 2+2 = 4 is more important than the truth that I have greeny-blue eyes.
However beautiful my eyes may be, those windows to my soul will never be as important as that simple mathematical truth. Children all the world over will know the truth of that mathematical statement; in comparison, very few humans will know of my existence – even fewer, quite sadly, will observe the quaint beauty of my eyes.
I started the article with the title truth is a lie. Why? Well, it wasn’t just to be provocative. I always think of religious fundamentalists when confronted with the question of truth, as I am inclined to think their truth is very subjective. An ardent Christian will believe the Bible is true. They are, for the most part, sincere. They live their lives according to what they deem to be the truth.
Yet, to an atheist, their truth is a lie. And, of course, this applies when we invert the accusation. To a Christian, an atheist’s truth is a lie, too. When we mull over the most potent truths there are, such as the trite ‘Is there a God?’ debate, it seems that truth is hard to come by.
Please let me get to the daddy of the truths: absolute truths. The term is a philosophical nightmare, as it creates a liar paradox if it doesn’t exist. An absolute truth can be defined as an universal truth which is true in all possible contexts without creating a contradiction. Here is an example of a potential absolute truth: God exists, has always existed, and will always exist. However, let’s invert this argument: God doesn’t exist, has never existed, and will always never exist. If you’re intelligent, you will notice that even though the first outcome is directly opposed to the second, it’s just as absolute. Now, look what happens when we deny the accuracy of absolute truths: There are no absolute truths. If this statement is true, then it is true absolutely, in all contexts. Yet it creates a liar paradox, as the words carry a classic binary truth, creating a contradiction. Thus my friends, you can see the truth is true, or the truth is a lie – or both, simultaneously.
I don’t know if I can come to a conclusion, as King David stated in Psalm 116:11, “All men are liars.” But was he lying?
Samuel Mack-Poole
