Jan. 19th, 2008

Truth

Jan. 19th, 2008 05:32 pm
pandora_parrot: (contemplative)
Are there true statements that are True, in the absolute sense, with a capital T?
1+1=2, right? Math is universal, right?

Many people spend their lives searching for universal truths to live their lives by. "This is right." "This is wrong." "This is what a person in this situation should do." We talk about natural progressions of cause to effect as a result of abstract notions of what is "universally true." We argue and debate about subjects like human rights, animal rights, abortion, rape, murder, genocide, etc. We refer to "universal notions" of reason, rationality, universal rights, etc.

But can such a universal notion really exist? Is it possible, in any way, for there to be something like "common sense" that truly and completely defines the fundamentals of what is right and what is wrong? Is there anything that can be said to be "true" in some absolute sense?

Or is "truth" a meaningless word without context. Can something only be said to be "True" when it is relative to a given framework?

Z2, the set of {0,1} with operation + is a place where 1+1 doesn't equal 2. In fact, it equals 0.

1+1=2 only is true within certain frameworks. Z, the set of all integers is one such framework. Zn where n > 2 is another framework. There are others, indeed.

Even mathematics rests on basic axioms and frameworks in which to evaluate "Truth." Even in mathematics, the concept of "Truth" is relative.

So... is there anything that is absolutely "True?"

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