What is truth

Updated January 20, 2021
Hello, dear readers of the KtoNaNovenkogo.ru blog. The concept of truth is often mentioned by teachers, scientists, religious leaders and other representatives of the intellectual elite.

To give it an exact definition is as difficult as to explain what freedom is or what love is. In the literature you will find several dozen different interpretations. So what is truth? Let's figure it out.

In fact, truth is a simple understanding and reflection of reality. It takes a little effort to compare some facts in order to identify true information that will reflect the reality of what is happening. Many people claim that the truth is different from the truth, is this really true? We'll talk about this a little later.

First you need to understand that truth is an abstract concept, and it is in the mind of a person at a specific moment in time. It is impossible to see or touch it anywhere, since it is not a material object, but a simple understanding of what corresponds to reality. Truth can only be understood or realized. Such awareness comes only after you find all the facts of the issue that interests you.

Truth is an elementary concept that cannot be different, because it is nothing more than the very essence of the subject of knowledge by the subject. Regardless of a person’s opinion, the truth always remains as it really is. Therefore, there should be no disputes or discussions on this matter.

Truth is only absolute knowledge and understanding of what is happening in reality.

What could be the criteria of truth?

To determine the truth of any statement, it is necessary to operate with certain criteria that will allow one to determine the true values. The method of verification and justification is to determine truth by comparing the following criteria:

consistency;
concreteness;
objectivity;
clarity;
social practice;
compliance with the laws of nature.

These auxiliary criteria make it possible to most accurately determine the truth of a statement. But besides this list, there is one main criterion for determining truth - this is the possibility of applying all components in practice. Knowledge alone will not be enough to establish the truth. Application in practice means the following: everything that can be confirmed is a true judgment, and everything that can be refuted is a false judgment.

In any case, even this criterion is not the basis for true knowledge, since it also has its limitations. This is due to the fact that practice always depends on specific knowledge, and this, in turn, is periodically supplemented.

Many people believe that truth and truth are the same concept. Even in Russian language dictionaries, these words are defined as synonyms, but they have specific differences from each other.

See table of differences.

Thus, we understand that the search for truth is an urgent task for all humanity of all times and peoples. Taking truth for truth, humanity is deeply mistaken. We need to look at this issue much broader and deeper. Understanding what all people and nations have been trying to do for thousands of years is not an easy task. So let's look at the question of truth in more detail.

It is worth understanding that truth is more a concept of philosophy or religion, and truth is a product of everyday vision of the subject of understanding.

What types of truth are there?

Be that as it may, truth is not an indisputable fact. After all, this is an understanding of being a person, and a person constantly changes his views on certain things, of course, if there are justified reasons for this. With the progress of mankind, many true statements are now considered false as new technologies have helped to gain new knowledge, which in turn has helped to refute the true statements. In this regard, truth has been divided into two types, namely:

Absolute truth is a comprehensive understanding of the subject under consideration, based on current information. This is everything that is around us, our world and everything that we all know about. Truth cannot change, it is an unchanging state, it can only be misunderstood or not comprehended, because it cannot be refuted or challenged. Absolute truth can most often be found in the exact sciences. A mathematical axiom is a truth and cannot be challenged or refuted.

Relative truth is a concept more from the field of philosophy, which is interpreted as knowledge about a subject based on incomplete information. It can be supplemented at any time or completely refuted after receiving new evidence. Relative truth directly depends on the current level of development of science, and is also tied to a specific place, specific time and conditions in which the research is conducted. This may change as practice improves.

You cannot share the truth, since this is the information that reflects reality. However, people cannot be sure of the authenticity of their judgments and constantly refute everything they come to. Therefore, the search for truth remains a pressing issue to this day.

The meaning of the word Truth according to Ushakov’s dictionary:

TRUTH of truth, w. 1. The ideal of knowledge, which consists in the coincidence of the conceivable with reality, in the correct understanding, knowledge of objective reality (book). The pursuit of truth lies at the core of scientific research. 2. What actually exists corresponds to reality, it is true. Hide the truth. Vouch for the truth of the message. Conform to the truth. The naked truth. 3. statement, position, judgment based on everyday experience. Old truth. A hackneyed truth. I have heard the truth: although the forehead is wide, the brain is small. Pushkin. Holy truth (colloquial) is an indisputable position, statement. In truth (church book, rhetoric) - really, in fact,

Truth in philosophy

There is a certain section in philosophy - epistemology. This is a section that helps you understand our world. Truth is a characteristic of a person’s thinking, which leads his understanding to a final definition that corresponds to reality.

Philosophers at all times believed that the search for truth is the main goal of philosophical activity.

Back in the days of Aristotle, who argued “that not everything we imagine is true.” These were the first mentions of truth in philosophy. Plato also expressed his opinion that truth does not depend on acquired knowledge, and can exist separately from it. It can move into another form of existence or into knowledge.

With the development of scientific activity, opinions began to diverge about the meaning of truth. For example, Emmanuel Kant suggested that truth is the correspondence of acquired knowledge with the subject of knowledge. But in turn, the main philosopher of France, Descartes, called truth what cannot be doubted.

To understand what truth is, it is necessary to fully understand this issue. Only by studying the subject of knowledge can you find the answers that interest you. However, there will never be any certainty that you will find the truth. Since truth does not need characteristics, it simply exists regardless of whether we are looking for it or not.

Even in the twentieth century, the knowledge of truth was a highly controversial issue. Until now, all modern methods for determining true knowledge cannot provide accurate reliable data to obtain true statements. Philosophy is constantly developing this topic, finding new distinctive features on the basis of which they constantly separate error from the truth of judgments.

According to philosophical beliefs, in addition to absolute and relative truth, three more varieties can be distinguished, namely:

Concrete – knowledge of what is considered true in specific conditions, within which the object of knowledge is located. For example, if we talk about the boiling of water, then we know that this process occurs at a temperature of 100 degrees; the truth will be if measurements are carried out on the Celsius scale.
Subjective - cannot exist without the subject of knowledge, that is, a person or society.
Outdated – information that has been considered true for a long time. For example, in the time of Galileo Galilei, humanity believed that it was true that the earth was motionless, and the structure of the solar system was considered to be different, completely different from the modern vision. Today all this is considered a fallacy, just like the idea that the earth is flat.

The very search for truth and its division into varieties may be a good sign in order to fully understand its essence, but by dividing it into parts we only move away from the truth and more and more questions arise.

In religion they believe that the truth is our essential God - Jesus Christ. And everyone living on earth cannot find the truth if they do not believe in the Lord God. For we cannot comprehend real truth without understanding faith

The concept of objectivity and subjectivity of truth

The objectivity of truth defines the actual existence of the object of knowledge. Information about reality is objective. It reflects consciousness, takes the forms of thinking, and passes through the senses. For this reason, knowledge constitutes the subjectivity of truth.

In the human subconscious, various objects exist (kindergarten, home, school, college, work) and acquire new shades. In addition, it can be expressed by various definitions, for example, “a citizen is a student of a general education institution” or “a student of a secondary specialized educational institution.” As a result, these definitions sound different.

From this it follows that truth is objective in its content and subjective in form.

Truth in religion

The indisputability of existence is one of the main canons of religion. Like philosophy, in religious knowledge there are no specific facts that could confirm all theoretical knowledge and hypotheses. Everything that cannot be explained is usually attributed to faith. And faith, in turn, is something that cannot be proven by mathematical calculations, but at the same time cannot be refuted.

Theologians believe that the main misconception is that truth is not “what” but “who.” The Lord God is the source of existence, hence his irrefutability. It is from this position that all religious figures do not allow another truth, since they believe that it simply cannot exist.

Main criteria

We continue to analyze the truth - the concept, types, criteria. As for the latter, they mean something that can certify the truth and helps distinguish it from error.

Among the main criteria are:

Consistency with previous scientific discoveries.
Compliance with logical laws.
Compliance with fundamental scientific knowledge.
Conciseness, simplicity, clarity.
The paradox of the idea.
Practical applicability and provability.

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As part of our introduction to the worldview, the concept of truth and its criteria, we will present the latter in more detail.

True beauty - what is it?

In the old days, it was generally accepted that beauty could be measured based on established criteria. People thought that art education could teach a person to correctly understand true beauty and distinguish it from ugliness. The modern concept of beauty is different and is considered outdated. Today it is generally accepted that beauty is a relative concept that is based on some stereotypes.

But if we talk about true beauty, then it is rather a manifestation of a person’s spiritual qualities. An internal state from which one can identify such qualities as: the ability to empathize, internal harmony, honesty, as well as the emotional state of a person.

True beauty is the internal state of the human soul. These are his actions, desires and aspirations. Finding peace of mind within oneself is the task of every person who is going to live in harmony with other people and the entire world around him. But first you need to start with yourself. Look into the depths of your own consciousness and try to find all the negative qualities, and then correct them

In order to gain spiritual beauty, you need to perform three basic actions:

Keep a diary for notes. Keeping a diary will help you get to know yourself and understand problems that we do not notice in everyday life. This method is a good motivation to awaken positive qualities in yourself. All thoughts that are written in your own diary will be able to materialize. Since everything we think about can be seen.

In this way, it will be possible to fully identify all our mistakes and experiences that we cannot see without recording. As we reread our thoughts, we begin to wonder what we are doing wrong, or what we can change or improve to achieve the desired result.

A diary helps us identify our own fears that we try to block as we get older. Our subconscious constantly tells us what is right and what is wrong, but to find the truth, you need to fully understand your own mind.

The inner voice will help you find balance and understanding of yourself. There is a “child” in each of us. This is what allows us to enjoy life, despite everyday problems and age. All you need to do is just ask the basic questions that interest you and listen to what your subconscious is telling you. In order not to get lost in your thoughts, you can use the first step and write down all your questions in a diary. After you ask questions and get answers, start taking action and changing yourself for the better. Moreover, all these actions should benefit you and the people around you.
Try meditating. Meditation helps you penetrate deeply into your own consciousness. This helps to establish all the processes that occur within us. Today there are many ways to enter trance and learn to meditate. This is a dive from your own consciousness into the depths of the subconscious. This practice will improve emotional reactions, overcome depression, irritability and other negative qualities. In addition, you can improve concentration, reaction, attentiveness and awareness.

In order to independently comprehend true harmony within yourself, you can use a proven method and ask yourself 10 questions that will help you better understand and realize your own Self:

How many books have I read lately?
What is my hobby and do I have one?
Whose destiny am I living?
Am I able to focus on the main points?
What prevents me from living the way I want?
What will my life be like in a few years if I don't change anything?
What can I do for people, what help can I provide?
Am I working or doing what I love?
What makes me angry and dissatisfied?
Who am i?

All these questions will help you better understand your own essence and understand your own soul. This list can be expanded to suit your needs. Write down your questions in a diary and try to find answers to them. Everything that you realize will help you to understand well the internal state of your own soul.

Truth is a reflection of present reality. Therefore, it is most reasonable to stop searching for her if there are no compelling reasons for this. Everything that is true does not need explanation or understanding, because it is as it should really be.

Is truth born in disputes?

For a long time, people have believed that truth is born in disputes, but this judgment also raises many questions and many do not agree with this statement. To have a constructive discussion, you must be literate and knowledgeable about the issue on which the dispute arose. Those people who engage in arguments are often impulsive and can cause harm to their interlocutor. Failure to have a good discussion destroys many families, and friends become enemies for life. In order to conduct a discussion correctly, it is necessary to understand the basic rules and not go beyond reasonable behavior.

By proving their truth, people begin to defend their own point of view. Regardless of the subject of the dispute, the process of discussion itself presupposes a difference in the opinions of those disputing. Arguments can be very convincing, but this does not change the truth; in addition, all parties to the dispute can see only part of the truth and be mistaken in their judgments

Here are a few rules that will help you realize your mistakes during an argument and teach you how to correctly express your own opinion:

You should not argue with a fool, because when you argue with him, you become the same;
In some cases, the ability to listen to your interlocutor can help resolve a dispute better than any facts;
There is no need to argue without reason; many argue because they do not want to agree;
The truth does not always correspond to reality and facts;
You should not react emotionally during an argument, as you will not be able to defend your position;
Very often, proving the truth leads to a loss of trust, so think before you start an argument;
By appealing to core values, a dispute can be turned into a search for truth;
If you know the truth, present it correctly;
Dialogue is better than a groundless argument.

The dispute must bring mutual agreement and understanding among the interlocutors, otherwise such a discussion has no meaning.

Functions of practice

Let us introduce the most important functions of practice:

It is she who acts as a source of knowledge. Everything that exists today, all scientific knowledge and achievements, to one degree or another appeared thanks to the practical needs of man.
The basis of knowledge. A person is not satisfied with simple contemplation of the world around him, observation of reality. Its nature requires transformation of the environment according to its needs.
The purpose of knowledge. Ultimately, a person cognizes the surrounding reality, reveals the laws of functioning and development of the world in order to satisfy his practical needs.
Criterion of truth. Any conclusion, theory, or even concept cannot be called true, reliable, or worthy of attention until it is tested in practice and confirmed by experience. Before this, even the most brilliant idea is considered just an assumption and a hypothesis.

Summarizing

Whatever the truth, it will always remain unchanged, because it is a reflection of reality. For thousands of years, people have been trying to comprehend the truth, but every time there are those who refute it or question all statements. As for true beauty, we now know that it is a lot of work on ourselves and in order to develop positive qualities in ourselves. If we talk about the truth that arises during a dispute, then this is only possible in the case of mutual respect for each other and the ability to listen to your interlocutor.

Ask your question to granddaughter Anna here

Compliance with fundamental knowledge

The new truth today must correspond to the Eternal laws. This is the law of conservation of energy, universal gravitation, supply and demand, Mendeleev’s Periodic Law, etc.

Also, the truth is consistent with previously established recognized scientific discoveries. Thus, the law of inertia (Newton's First Law) fully corresponds to Galileo's law. Newton considered the movement of bodies more deeply and comprehensively than his predecessor.

We briefly examined the concept of truth and its criteria. Now you know that it can be objective, absolute and relative. The question of whether truth belongs to any of the last two categories is decided by its criteria - practice, logic, compliance with fundamental knowledge, provability, absence of contradictions with recognized discoveries, etc.

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