Ryan Polk
‘Can We Know Truth?’
1. Introduction; Is this an important question?
2. Important Working Definitions:
Truth - the expression, symbol, or statement that matches or corresponds to its object or referent (i.e. that to which it refers whether abstractly or concretely).
Epistemology - the discipline that deals with the theory of knowledge. It is the study of how we know.
Logic - methods of valid thinking; drawing proper conclusions from premises; a prerequisite for thought.
First Principles - the foundation of knowledge by which without them nothing could be know. First principles undeniably apply to reality. The very denial of them uses first principles in the denial.
3. What is truth?
What truth is not:
1. Truth is not what works
2. Truth is not that which coheres
3. Truth is not that which was intended
4. Truth is not what is comprehensive
5. Truth is not what is existentially relevant
6. Truth is not what feels good
TWO VIEWS OF TRUTH
| Correspondence | Non-correspondence | |
| Basis: | Factual | Practical |
| Nature: | Propositional | Personal |
| Referent: | Reality | Results |
| Medium: | Language | Life |
| Location: | Affirmation | Intention |
| Nature of Error: | Falsehood/Mistake | Lie/Deciet |
| Implication: | All mistakes are errors | Not all mistakes are errors |
What truth is…
Biblically:
Philosophically:
4. Is truth absolute or relative?
Relativism
1. Relative to time and space
2. Relative to people
Problems With Relativism
1. Absolutely relative
2. Contradictions
3. No wrongs, no rights
Absolutism
1. Whatever is true at one time and in one place is true at all times and in all places
2. Whatever is true for one person is true for all people
Objections to Absolutism
1. No absolute knowledge
2. In-between Truths
3. No New Truth(s) (or progress)
4. Truth and growth in knowledge
5. Narrow Absolutes
6. Dogmatic Absolutes
5. Can We Know Truth?
Epistemology
There are several epistemologies:
Agnosticism
Skepticism
Rationalism
Fideism
Realism
1. Agnosticism / Skepticism
2. Rationalism
3. Fideism
4. Realism
CAN WE KNOW TRUTH?
| Agnosticism: | Self-defeating – how do they know that we can’t know? |
| Skepticism: | Self-defeating – do they even doubt doubting? |
| Rationalism: | Inconsistent – can’t rationally prove that something is rationally inescapable |
| Fideism: | Self-defeating – either unjustified belief or not fideism |
| Realism: | We can know something |
6. Is truth logical?
“We can know what we know about God because thought applies to reality. In that context, knowledge is possible… Logic is a necessary presupposition of all thought. Without logic (the laws of thought), we can’t even think. But is it only a presupposition? How do we know logic applies to reality? We know it because it is undeniable.”
Self-evident first principles – what are they?
I. Self-evident propositions about logic
A. Law of non-contradiction (A is not non-A)
B. Law of Identity (A is A)
C. Law of the excluded middle (either A or non-A)
D. Laws of valid inference
II. Self-evident propositions about knowledge
A. Something can be known
B. Opposites cannot both be true
C. Everything cannot be false
III. Self-evident propositions about existence
A. Something exists (e.g., I do)
B. Nothing cannot produce something
C. Everything that comes to be is caused
7. Conclusions:
1. This is a very important subject and question because a person’s view of truth has consequences on their life.
2. Truth is a correspondent to reality.
3. Truth is absolute for all people, for all times, and for all places
4. The challenges to belief in absolute truth do not stand against logic or the Word of God
5. Christianity makes exclusive claims to be true and from logic and evidences these claims can be supported as reasonable.
