In our society, we define true as a substantiated event or occurrence. A fact, a certainty. However, our generalized view of truth is somewhat narrow-minded. Truth can be objective and subjective. Truth can be personal or universal. Truth can be what you know to be certain about yourself, and what you know to be certain about the world. Truth can be personal and universal, however, these two often cloud each other to the point where they are individually indistinguishable.
Take for example, the media. Many people are caught in the illusion that the media broadcasts only universal truths. Others, more skeptical of the media, believe it to be so influenced by personal bias that it has no value. I believe that when considering the level of “truth” within the media, there is a mixture of personal truths (of the writers) and universal truths, which are events that many people witnessed and therefore transform from a multitude of personal truths into one universal truth. Taking truth from the media is a dangerous game, one must be able to distinguish personal from universal truths. However, to disregard it as a useless source of truth is an oversight.
The stress related to the college process is a good example of when personal and universal truths work against each other. A common universal truth is that the college process is very stressful for all seniors. This concept has a very powerful ability to manipulate that personal truths of many students who maybe were never stressed in the first place. Universal truths have such a large scale power, they can manipulate personal truths and therefore affect how people feel. It takes reason and self analysis to distinguish your personal truths from the universal truths that most likely have shaped your behavior for the entirety of your life.
Many people have their personal truths swayed by universal truths regularly. But what really are universal truths? Colors, for example, we take to be universal truths. However, it is very possible that everyone sees colors in a very different way. While personal truths are more concrete within a person, universal truths can never really be substantiated. Universal truths are complied of overlapping personal truths, however, because everyone perceives things in different ways, universal truths can never be 100% certain. While I may see my water bottle as “blue,” and accept this as a universal truth, I can never really know what “blue” looks like to others. The only universal truth about my water bottle is literally the word “blue,” not the actual color. Using this example, we see that Universal truths have limited value as factual certainties.
So, if universal truth and personal truths can never truly be substantiated as factual certainties, what is truth? Truths are not certainties but thought-out and reasoned beliefs. They can be beliefs about oneself or widely shared beliefs. Of course, it does take some analysis, logic and mindfulness to distinguish truths from raw beliefs. There is no (substantiated) higher being to tell us what is true and what is not. So all we can do is pick, choose, rethink and analyze our beliefs to form personal truths.
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ReplyDeleteFirst off, I really like how you decided to go about writing this. While you never said that this is your personal journey to find truth, it is clear that these examples you wrote about are relatable to you. This also shows through when you're reading it and I think the way you wrote these examples make everything you're saying really relatable. I also wrote about color perception and I now I often catch myself thinking about colors and wondering if what I see is different to how others see things. What if there is a completely different range of colors that one person couldn't even possibly imagine while its someone else complete reality? So crazy!
ReplyDeleteI like the way that you thought of truth as a personal truth and a universal truth, because I distinguished it in the same way. I personally don't think there is any way to define truth when we live in a society of mixed beliefs and opinions, but I like your idea that truth should be defined through mindful and thought out beliefs because I do think that is the closest we can get to truth.
ReplyDeleteIt's very clear and thought out. I like the part where you state that truth can be what you know to be certain about yourself because even if everything else is questionable what works for you can be your personal truth. I agree with you in that one needs some reason and self analysis to distinguish personal from universal truths. It's hard to find concrete truths when everyone operates differently.
ReplyDeleteI like how you discussed the difference between personal truths and universal truths. I agree that personal truths can be influenced and changed by universal truths, like the college process. In my experience, the college process isn't that stressful, but when we're in our mini course, it's easy to get more worked up because everyone around is stressed out, so my personal truth can be distorted. I also agree with your point that we never truly know even simple things like color are true. It's a compelling point that makes people think.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea that personal truth can be easily affected by the universal ones, and how because it is widely accepted that college applications are stressful, we come to have the impression that we are stressed, whether it is true or not. Also, the point about not able to confirm the color we see is the same as everyone else's reminds me about the color paradox I recently read about.
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