Determining The Truth Flashcards
John 8:32
Then you will know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set you free!
What is truth?
JUSTIFIED, TRUE BELIEF
3 CONDITIONS
TRUE things can be known
Something is true because you believe it to be true
There is JUSTIFICATION for such belief
Something is true if it corresponds to reality
Correspondence theory of truth
Something is true if it make sense when placed in a certain situation or context.
There is a possibility that there will be varied truths from different perspective
Coherence Theory
NO ABSOLUTE TRUTH
Relativism
Knowledge is shaped by social forces and influenced by culture and history.
Constructivist theory
Knowledge as based on agreement and that something is true if almost everyone agrees that it is true
consensus theory
Something is true if we can put it into practice or is useful in real life.
Ideas must be VERIFIED using the senses or experience
Pragmatic Theory of Truth
Arguments based on faulty reasoning
fallacy
Attacking your opponent’s character or personal traits instead of engaging with their argument.
ad hominem
Using like threat of force or an undesirable event to advance the argument
“If this peace argument will not be signed by the government, then we will go to war”
Force
Using emotions such as pity or sympathy
“All these charges are baseless; this is just plain harassment - can’t you see how this is affecting my family?”
EMOTION
The idea is presented as acceptable because a lot of people accept it
“Every boy at your age already has a girlfriend, you should go find one!”
POPULAR
The idea is acceptable because it has been true for a long time
“Marriage should be between a man and a woman. It has been so for a long time in this country; it should remain so today and in the future”
TRADITION