Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Truth is More than Facts

I love the following quote from the old Indian Jones movie:
Archaeology is the search for fact ... not truth. If it's truth you're interested in, Dr. Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall. So forget any ideas you've got about lost cities, exotic travel, and digging up the world. We do not follow maps to buried treasure, and "X" never, ever, marks the spot. Seventy percent of all archaeology is done in the library.
―Indiana Jones

Facts are a subset of truth.  Without facts, you cannot have truth.  However, not all truth include verifiable, quantifiable facts.  Truth is indeed more than facts.

Truth does, however, involve philosophical rhetoric and ideas that do require logic and reason.  Truth requires that logical fallacies be avoided. 

Truth really does exist - it is not relative.  When people live according to the truth, the world will become a better place.  Not everyone will live this way, and indeed, most people don't even know that an idea is really and truly a lie or a falsehood because not all truth is obvious.

There is danger when living life based on things that are simply NOT true!  That is, living life based on false ideas, false beliefs and false philosophies can be simply bad or can be overtly dangerous.  Jesus said, "...the truth shall set you free".  Free from what?  Free from these dangers and ultimately free from being hurt by lies, deceptions and falsehoods.

I invite you to come and reason with me, examining the idea of truth - absolute truth.  I want to become a person who stands on the truth and I want to encourage others to do the same.  I think that in doing so, I can add a little bit of good in the world in some small way!