There are many different ways to look at this issue, but I'll be relatively brief in defining it, and then let you respond before I give my opinions.
Brief definition of objective truth: The concept that 2+2=4 no matter what. This concept was examined extensively in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.
To expand a little, if truth is objective, that means that there are truths that exist whether or not someone is there to perceive them. An amusing way of looking at it is to ask, if 2 is added to 2 in a forest and no one is around to add it, does it still make 4? If truth is objective, then yes, 2+2 always equals 4, the sun is relatively hot, the earth revolves around the sun, water is wet, the sky is blue, and people have five senses.
However, if truth is subjective, then it exists only as far as you perceive it. Basically, 2+2 is only equal to 4 if you believe it is. If you are under the impression that 2+2 is 5, then it is 5 until you are convinced otherwise. If truth is subjective, then the sun is only as hot as you think it is, the earth moves in whatever pattern you believe it moves in, water is only as wet as you think it is, the sky is whatever color you believe it is, and people have however many senses you think they have.
I have a few theories on the subject of truth, but I'll let this post sit for a while before I get into my own ideas. Let me know what you think first.
Truth: is it objective, or subjective?
Yay fun. biggrin
Brief definition of objective truth: The concept that 2+2=4 no matter what. This concept was examined extensively in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.
To expand a little, if truth is objective, that means that there are truths that exist whether or not someone is there to perceive them. An amusing way of looking at it is to ask, if 2 is added to 2 in a forest and no one is around to add it, does it still make 4? If truth is objective, then yes, 2+2 always equals 4, the sun is relatively hot, the earth revolves around the sun, water is wet, the sky is blue, and people have five senses.
However, if truth is subjective, then it exists only as far as you perceive it. Basically, 2+2 is only equal to 4 if you believe it is. If you are under the impression that 2+2 is 5, then it is 5 until you are convinced otherwise. If truth is subjective, then the sun is only as hot as you think it is, the earth moves in whatever pattern you believe it moves in, water is only as wet as you think it is, the sky is whatever color you believe it is, and people have however many senses you think they have.
I have a few theories on the subject of truth, but I'll let this post sit for a while before I get into my own ideas. Let me know what you think first.
Truth: is it objective, or subjective?
Yay fun. biggrin