Most people understand truth as representational truth, meaning a statement can only be classified as true or false if it refers to or represents something in the concrete world.

Example: “It is raining outside”. This can be checked by going outside to verify whether it is indeed raining. When aspects can easily be seen, we tie our statements to the objects, processes or affairs. This is also called the Correspondence Theory of Truth and relies on empirical representation.

The more complex approach to truth includes subjective truthfulness.

Example: “I am happy”. There is no way of checking the accuracy of this statement without entering into further discussion, since we are assessing a topic which is not represented in the concrete world (or isn’t backed by a Law of Nature).

The difficulty with subjective truthfulness is that not only might I be lying to you, I could also be lying to myself, often without being aware of it myself. In our simplistic example, I could honestly tell you that I am happy (so I am being true to you), but I’ve not admitted to myself that I am not happy (so I am not being true to myself). Is my statement thus true or false?

The amazing fact is that truth alone will not set one free. Only truthfulness will set one free.

Date posted : January 24th, 2007 by Michael Haupt Last Modified : September 28th, 2007 / Filed under : World View / Report a Concern Navigate : Previous post / Next post / Top of Page
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