Truth: Part 2

I heard a story, once, about a man who sat down in the final exam for his phsycology class and found one question staring up at him. "Prove the existence of the chair you're sitting on." He thought for a few moments, scribbled a quick response, and then got up and left the room. Curiosity getting the better of him, the instructor looked to see what the student had written. He chuckled at the response..."What chair?"

This story has helped to expand and further solidify, in my mind, the definition of truth. Some question the nature of truth based on one or another theory of reality. They believe that truth must be taken, reexamined, and redefined based on changes in perception, speed, dimension, or some other modifier.

Again, think of truth in terms of reality...the way things actually are, and apply it to the story. Most will see a chair and accept it as being real. Some will not. In the case where the chair is not real, is it truth that is changed or is our perception of truth limited?

You see, even if what we perceive is false there still exists a reality that has been, is, and will remain unchanged. If, in reality, several dimensions exist then this is the truth and our lack of understanding or of seeing these other dimensions is merely a question of perception.

Truth: Part 1

Is truth absolute or subjective? Some time ago this question was posed to me and, having not considered the matter, I confess to not having had an answer. As I feel that any dispute would rise from a question of definition I feel this is a good place to begin.

Consider truth in a more general sense than the one in which you typically consider it...whether it be law, religion, or something else. See it as reality; the way things actually are.

A good example, and one that is well known, is the fact that several hundred years ago the people of the earth believed the world to be flat. Consider truth in this example. Is the actuality of the matter affected in any way by the perception of society? Go one step further and ask the question whether it be affected by the will of society.

Truth is something that exists in such a way that perception and will have no power over it. In fact, perceived truth is nothing more than a part or a distortion of the whole. What you might call willed truth, if it be in contradiction to the actuality of things, is nothing more than blindness and sometimes a manifestation of the occasional arrogance of humanity.

After considering truth in this light I have concluded that truth is, by its very nature, absolute. Anything less than absolute truth is at most a part and portion of it, and maybe nothing by distortion, misconception, and blindness.