While Trying to examine my understand ing of truth and it's importance, I decided to find some understandings and definitions of truth. Whle Iwas expecting lengthy definitions what I found was conflicting theories on the subject itself.
The main theories in the order I reviewed them is as follows:
Correspondence theory believes that truth is congruent with the way things are. This concept of truth focuses on there being a universal reality and truth that transcends all other things. However as can be expected the flaws to this is the philosophy is the reliance on all people being capable of definitely being able to confirm the existence of this universal truth.
Coherence theory of truth assumes that truth is found in things that are logically acceptable. Of coure the problems with a theory on what is logically acceptable and fitting is that logic is constained to human understanding. During Einstein's time Quantum Physics was considered unacceptable and illogical.
Constructivist theory believes that truth is upheld through social construction. Among them, are socially constructed physical appearances, such as race and gender. This theory holds against the correspondence theory but appears to be more viable than it due to simple examles. A prime example is language; since language is relative to cultural values and cannot be completely translated to differant languages, and that reality is explained through language, there are percieved parts of reality that cannot be fully explained or communicated to members otside a given community. In this case, it is safe to assume that society may have some effect on understanding society.
Consensus theory believes that all things agreed upon within a reasoning community, is unarguably a truth. However, once again the flaw presented is the relience on human ability to percieve truth,if said truth exists. This theory merely justifies the perceptions of the group concensus making it inefficient.
Pragmatic theory assumes that all truth s obtained through practice. While truth is present, only through practice, it also states that all partial truths wil eventually approach a correct understanding. A prime example is taking the limit of a integral in calculus, all the numbers and calculations all theoretically pproacha universal truth.
Considering these main theories I can assume, from personal byes in mind, that the only reasonable theories present are that of the constructionist theory and that of the pragmatic theory. While one can assume that by believing in science itself pragmatic theory should hold up, as practice an expiriment should reveal absolutes, or the absence of it. In any case, the real question lies in the existence and validity of the Constructivist theory and if so to what extent. In this case, I would asuume that it does hold so to a certaine extent but not entirely. Sadly the only way to prove whether constructionist theory is false would be to create a society without conditioning, which is impossible to test.
In any case, it is best to assume truth is a constant as in pragmatic theory not only for the sake of sanity and that of the necessity to be constant for human simplicity. If truth becomes questioned, then it may be scienttfically sound to abandon all present data ammased which would be detrimental to our society.In any case, truth is as truth does in that it exists but may never be fully understood by people.
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