Can Truth be Known?

-John Dunfee

Truth is whatever correspond with what is reality. Truth just is and doesn’t need an explanation. Truth exist necessarily and is an abstract concept of what reality is. This is why this question seems nonsensical to me. The question (what is the Truth?) is completely a respectable question because it’s asking what is reality. Whether Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Atheism, or any other worldview could be true. Whichever view is true would be truth or what is reality. Truth is whatever reality is. Reality exists because something is and something is not. Whether I’m part of a dream or a brain in a jar being stimulated these are two candidates could be what is reality. Of course I’m sure that I’m having an experience independent of either of these ideas of reality.
 
Truth can be known by humans because we are wondering creatures seeking the truth. Animals do not have this ability all they do is try to survive. Humans wonder and survive. Some even contemplate if they should even live based on what they think reality is. This is why truth is so important for humans to discover. We as a wondering species should try and figure out what reality is because it ultimately affects us. If Hell is real, then we should care about truth and if the Christian God is real then we can have the ultimate relationship with the greatest conceivable being in ultimate paradise. If atheism is true, then that makes this life count in whatever way you want to live it. Whether you live like Mother Teresa or live like Adolf Hitler. It’s up to you because it’s just my opinion vs your opinion.
 
We live in a post-truth age is how some post-modernist are putting it. They value emotion over what is truth. First off, why should we value emotions over truth because that itself would be a truth statement! I do value emotions because I use emotions to express why truth is important. I believe that’s a key purpose of emotion is to emphasize the value of truth claims. If you get offended by what is true, then obviously you have a certain opinion of certain concepts of truth. Like Christianity for example, many people don’t want to be true because there’s a standard they have to follow. People want to be their own God’s and rule their own lives. This is subjective morality where everyone lives their own ways. The problem is we have people who want to help people and people who want to kill people. What we need is an objective standard beyond human opinion which would be the objective way to live. If we all followed Jesus two greatest commandments love God and our neighbors, then we would have zero conflict with other people.
 
This is why truth is important because it determines what reality is and how we should live in what reality truly is. We can combat statements that try to attack the objectivity of truth. It’s called the road runner tactic. It’s where we apply a truth claim to itself. Here are some great examples of self-defeating statements:
 
There is no truth!
Is that True?
 
We shouldn’t judge others!
You just made a judgement of others right there.
 
The scientific method is the only way to know truth.
Did you use science to determine the truth of this truth claim?
Also the fact that there are many things that cannot be accessed by the scientific method.
 
I don’t speak a word in English.
You just spoke English!
 
Christians are bigots!
You’re a bigot when it comes to Christian opinions.
 
True for you, but not for me!
Okay then I shouldn’t care about the fact that it’s true for you.
 
These are many claims about truth that are defeated by the claim itself. If you hold the position that truth cannot be known the you do believe that truth can be known because you’ve comes to the truth that truth cannot be known. It’s a self-defeating worldview and many people don’t take it seriously. I highly suggest becoming a sincere seeker of truth. I think if you search with an open mind and open heart then I think you will come to realize that Christianity is the ultimately Truth.
 
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Sources
http://seanmcdowell.org/blog/self-refuting-statements-you-must-know
http://crossexamined.org/really-live-post-truth-world/
http://www.reasonablefaith.org/is-there-objective-truth