What is truth?

leelover · 10-25-2006, 11:10 AM

There I was trying to innocently waste time researching useless motorcycle fact and opinion, and the evil Google led me here! Can I sue them, btw?
Now that the door has been opened (Pandora's box?), the discussions are causing me to try to think. I have some apt analogies for this...later, though.
I am writing this because I posted some stuff in Luvtolean's Terrorist thread, something I believed was "an immutable fact". In retrospect, I think I should have said I believed it was a "Truth". Still doesn't change the end result, but I really wish someone would prove me wrong!
So, all this got me to thinking about what truth is and how do we recognize it? At some point almost everything (other than finite physical stuff you can tangibly analyze) reaches a point were hard "scientific" proof falters and we must employ faith. Of course this is my belief.
I have looked a little am reading about Epistemology, the study of knowledge. I have few illusions left (is that in itself an illusion?), and have to admit my many limitations (before they are pointed out by others!), so what do you greater minds think? Yes that means everyone is qualified to participate!
What is true, and how to you know it is?

onevcs · 10-25-2006, 12:17 PM

I believe nothing. Agnostic at all levels.

*Quick 26* · 10-25-2006, 12:21 PM

believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see

BDA116 · 10-25-2006, 12:32 PM

..............and everything some pompous jackass posts on the internet.

*Quick 26* · 10-25-2006, 12:52 PM

if its on the net it has to be true

adzman · 10-25-2006, 3:37 PM

truth is belief

you'll never convince someone their wrong if they believe!!

abtech · 10-25-2006, 4:14 PM

dunno, but I hear it will set you free . . .

ND4SPD · 10-25-2006, 5:23 PM

The truth is...Dave is a whiner.

seamus · 10-25-2006, 5:27 PM

Epistemology is a joke.

Mojave954 · 10-25-2006, 9:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

The truth is...Dave is a whiner.

That damn dave....

Mojave954 · 10-25-2006, 9:18 PM

Unless it come from THE PETE or BDA is just can't be the truth.

leelover · 10-25-2006, 9:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamus

Epistemology is a joke.

I am just now begining to look into this. Do you say it's a joke because the "proof" is still based on faith?

sheepofblue · 10-25-2006, 9:39 PM

JBODIE · 10-25-2006, 9:43 PM

Fact: There is no true Truth, it is all belief because is two sides to everything.

leelover · 10-25-2006, 9:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBODIE

Fact: There is no true Truth, it is all belief because is two sides to everything.

I agree about two sides, but isn't there any absoute truth? I think there has to be.

FrenchieR6 · 10-25-2006, 10:02 PM

How do you know if it is 100% true...

JBODIE · 10-25-2006, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leelover

I agree about two sides, but isn't there any absoute truth? I think there has to be.

No , because of where we were raised, taught, believe etc, is what we believe regardless of anything else. My 2 cents.

JBODIE · 10-25-2006, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrenchieR6

How do you know if it is 100% true...

You just do not know.

BDA116 · 10-25-2006, 10:14 PM

2+2=4 It's true. Try it.

leelover · 10-25-2006, 10:22 PM

"We hold these Truths to be self-evident", From the Declaration of Independence. The men who wrote this believed in these "truths" enough to jeopardize their lives in a fight against a great foe.
I am sure there were strong arguments for and against Independence from England. At some point they had to be convinced that these ideas were true.
Did they simply believe, or have faith to accept these things enough to die for them?
How do you know? Is it "commonsense"? Do you just "know in your heart"?
I have to admit that that is what happens for me.

leelover · 10-25-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBODIE

No , because of where we were raised, taught, believe etc, is what we believe regardless of anything else. My 2 cents.

good point!
This our perception of the truth based on our experience.
Is it possible to expand it to include others perspectives?

FrenchieR6 · 10-25-2006, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

2+2=4 It's true. Try it.

no........that's 22 duh..........

killerB · 10-25-2006, 10:36 PM

I was just looking for motorcycle tips....

I think I dialed the wrong number

...and btw truth = belief (as stated earlier)

example:

If I layed a stapler on my desk an hour ago and got up from my desk, and without knowing one of my co-workers borrowed my stapler I would not know my stapler was not on my desk anymore

If another co-worker asked me to borrow my stapler and I said, "sure, it is on my desk" That would be my truth, but not factual.

Oh, BDA116.... 2+2=4 is factual, not the truth

FrenchieR6 · 10-25-2006, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerB

I was just looking for motorcycle tips....

I think I dialed the wrong number

...and btw truth = belief (as stated earlier)

example:

If I layed a stapler on my desk an hour ago and got up from my desk, and without knowing one of my co-workers borrowed my stapler I would not know my stapler was not on my desk anymore

If another co-worker asked me to borrow my stapler and I said, "sure, it is on my desk" That would be my truth, but not factual.

Oh, BDA116.... 2+2=4 is factual, not the truth

Good answer

BDA116 · 10-25-2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerB

I was just looking for motorcycle tips....

I think I dialed the wrong number

...and btw truth = belief (as stated earlier)

example:

If I layed a stapler on my desk an hour ago and got up from my desk, and without knowing one of my co-workers borrowed my stapler I would not know my stapler was not on my desk anymore

If another co-worker asked me to borrow my stapler and I said, "sure, it is on my desk" That would be my truth, but not factual.

Oh, BDA116.... 2+2=4 is factual, not the truth

Right, I didn't realize only one person's meaning of the word truth mattered.

truth - Definitions from Dictionary.com
truth
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.
6. an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude.
7. honesty; integrity; truthfulness.
8. (often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life.
9. agreement with a standard or original.
10. accuracy, as of position or adjustment.
11. Archaic. fidelity or constancy.

leelover · 10-25-2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerB

I was just looking for motorcycle tips....

Yeah, well I was asking people what the riding difference was like between a Rc 51 and a 600 on a race track. No body indulged me much, and look what happened!

FrenchieR6 · 10-25-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leelover

Yeah, well I was asking people what the riding difference was like between a Rc 51 and a 600 on a race track. No boby indulged me much, and look what happened!

ain't that the truth!!!!!!!!

JBODIE · 10-25-2006, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

2+2=4 It's true. Try it.

If you say so.

bwhip · 10-25-2006, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leelover

Yeah, well I was asking people what the riding difference was like between a Rc 51 and a 600 on a race track. No body indulged me much, and look what happened!

About .030 seconds a lap, as I recall...

C9H13NO3 4me · 10-26-2006, 2:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerB

I was just looking for motorcycle tips....

I think I dialed the wrong number

...and btw truth = belief (as stated earlier)

example:

If I layed a stapler on my desk an hour ago and got up from my desk, and without knowing one of my co-workers borrowed my stapler I would not know my stapler was not on my desk anymore

If another co-worker asked me to borrow my stapler and I said, "sure, it is on my desk" That would be my truth, but not factual.

Oh, BDA116.... 2+2=4 is factual, not the truth

That would be your "assumption" not "truth." I was just participating in another thread on a similar website and made this post...

Since there can be only one truth, the mere existence of religion dictates that there will be conflict as a result of different interpretations of the ultimate truth; man’s belief that their version of the truth is correct and therefore, those who believe otherwise are infidels or bound for an eternal lake of hellfire, etc.