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Jim's PERSPECTIVEOctober 28, 2013Truth or Truths What is the nature of truth? Here are a few theories (taken from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy): The Correspondence Theory of truth says that what we believe or say is true if it corresponds to the way things actually are—that is, if it corresponds to the facts. Identity Theory of truth holds that a true proposition is identical to a fact. A proposition is a statement or an expression put forth for consideration of acceptance, but one which can be believed, doubted, or denied. A fact is understood as a proposition which is true. Identity theory says that propositions are the objects of belief. Propositions are what we believe, and they provide the contents of belief. In other words, propositions are the bearers of truth. A belief is that the state of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing, or the conviction of the truth of a statement or proposition or reality when based on examination of the evidence. Coherence Theory of truth says that truth is that systematic coherence—holding together—which is the character or nature of the whole. In other words, something is true if it fits within the entire system of truth. Pragmatism says that truth is verified and confirmed by the results of putting one’s beliefs into practice. “Truth is the end of questioning.” Truth is what works. Relativism is the view that truths depend on the individuals or groups holding them. This belief says that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind. Subjective truth is something that is true simply because someone believes it to be so. Here are some good quotes regarding truth: Thomas Aquinas – In Summa Theologica, he writes, “Truth is conformity of the intellect to the thing.” He also points out that “The Study of philosophy is not that we may know what men have thought, but what the truth of things is.” Gandhi – “God is Truth.” And later he said, “Truth is God.” Gandhi also said, “Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear.” J.R.R. Tolkien – “Legends and myths are largely made of truth, and indeed, present aspects of truth that can only be received in this mode." Jesus – “I am the Truth, the Life, the Way….” And he said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” And, speaking as the Holy Spirit, the Second Person of the Godhead, he said, in effect, “I will lead you into all truth concerning myself.” Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a pretty cool guy. He believed that through what he called “The Authority of the Senses” (particularly Common Sense), one could come to an understanding of truth without divine revelation. Of course, he would absolutely say that Divine Revelation is necessary for one to know God. And if God doesn’t reveal himself, one can’t know him, plain and simple. But he believed that there are some basic propositions about being and existence that can be realized rationally. Aquinas disagreed with one of his contemporaries, a philosopher by the name of Siger of Brabant, who believed that there are basically two kinds of truth: 1) scientific truth, or what he called “natural” truth, and 2) religious truth, or, “supernatural truth.” Siger said, essentially, that natural truth overrules supernatural truth, and that when one is doing science, one must pretend that religious truth does not enter into the discussion. But he also said, more or less, that when one is doing supernatural, or religious, truth, one must pretend that it is true even if one believes that it is not. This kind of understanding made Aquinas hot and bothered. He countered that there are NOT two truths, but only one. And in the end, nothing in scientific truth will contradict religious truth, and nothing in religious truth will contradict scientific truth. It is the age-old argument of Faith versus Reason, and Science versus Religion. These arguments were advanced in the thirteenth century, but they could very well have been put forward today. Actually, they still are. Many Christians do not believe in several base-line traditional Judeo-Christian propositions concerning God and human existence. Many believe that we live in a self-existent, self-producing universe that had no beginning and has no end. However, even modern science has concluded that we live in a world that is disintegrating, evidently through explosions of energy, and that the world will eventually cease to exist. Consequently, given that there will be an end, it is assumed that there was also a definite beginning. This is, in my opinion, just one example of how scientific truth reinforces religious truth. Aquinas is speaking for me, in that I believe that there is one truth, and that at the end of the day, both religion and science will embrace each other. And I believe, as he did, that Christians need to embrace their own Christianity for the sake of the truth. - Jim Radford |
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©2013 Jim Radford. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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