Truth
Item No. 14
“Even though to define it precisely is up for debate, we might say the worth of truth is not to be debated.”Truth as we know is “the quality of being in agreement with reality or fact.” A simple way to imagine the truth might be to declare that it is “the opposite of a false statement.” “The death of a lie.” The absence of truth, then, is described as “a statement that is not factual or a situation where truth is concealed or unknown, essentially the opposite of reality or accuracy.” The absence of truth is often used to describe things that don’t represent reality, such as beliefs, statements, or propositions. Of course, if it was as simple as all of that, philosophers would not continue to debate it for centuries–as they continue to do today. Is the white of snow white? Do we see it, this thing, snow, in the same way? Even though to define truth precisely might be up for debate, we might also say the worth of truth is not to be debated. As humans, we depend upon truth as a basis for our lives, it is the sure ground on which we can stand and meet each other eye to eye. We think of other words like “faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty, sincerity, veracity, authenticity,” when we think of truth. It is listed in the catalog this season as some are debating whether standard sources for truth in society are at risk, such as traditional journalism sources.
The price of truth is hard to define, isn’t it? Like other listings, it's quite priceless. Maybe the most priceless of all, actually. The price of the loss of truth seems not only the loss of reality, but more simply a loss of a middle ground, a place to find and know each other as the place to begin our real conversation with each other. The cost though, that seems to be a loss of ourselves at our core. A loss of us. Our society—our togetherness—our belief in each other and possibly even, in something greater than ourselves. “In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” – George Orwell
Other specifications:
Specifications for an absence of truth? Seems like that’s to be debated, if its not true, its rather opaque, isn’t it? (Which leaves everything standing on unsettled ground, doesn’t it?)