“Truth is something which can't be told in a few words. Those who simplify the universe only reduce the expansion of its meaning.” This quotation by Anais Nin shows how the human condition teaches us to always search for truth. People want to know everything so they know their own perceptions are valid, but often the quest for truth is too much for the individual. It is common to not be aware of the truth, but once our perceptions are proven wrong, it is important to look for the truth.
In the Allegory of the cave, none of the prisoners were aware of the world around them and that was okay for them. However once one of them was taken into the “real world” he felt the pain of truth but also the joy. He realized that he was living a limited life in the cave and that he loved being in the world and loved the truth. When he came back to bring the truth to his fellow prisoners, it was to much for them and they didn’t believe him. Because of their perceptions, they thought outside the cave would hurt them like it had hurt him. Their own opinions made them unwilling to follow the truth. Similarly, in the Matrix, everyone in the Matrix is seeing their own perceptions, but the greater truth still surrounds them all. When Neo searched for the truth, he found that the world he had known was only his perception and reality was greater than he could have ever known. Humans often try to find the truth to pin it down but the fact is truth is beyond our understanding and trying to understand everything is pointless.
I believe that there are universal truths and personal truths that exist together. Universal truths can be anything, but personal truths are based in emotions, experience and the nature around us. Truth is hard to define and that makes it harder to classify something as truth. Merriam Webster defines it as “a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality.” I agree with that definition but I also think that trying to contain what truth means and what it looks like is, is similar to trying to contain the universe. Humans have a desire to know the truth about everything, and it’s shown in popular culture like the movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but like the movie, no one person can know everything and it’s not our place to know either. In my opinion, humans don’t exist to know everything, they exist to move through life as positive members of the universe.
The quest for truth can be fruitful and beneficial to an individual and society. It can lead innovation and create meaningful experiences. However, truth isn’t a right, it’s a gift. Many people live without truth to those who are able to live surrounded by it, it can sometimes be a curse. In the Matrix, they said “the truth can set you free,” but sometimes the truth can take over someone’s life and cloud them from reality. Humans should search for the truth, but also remember that perfection doesn’t lie in truth.
I agree that no one person can know the full truth, but this "fact" is not accepted by everyone. I also like how you acknowledge both universal and personal truths and explain how personal truths have a more subjective base. I also agree that the truth can do more harm than good in some cases, because sometimes people can become lost in their own personal truths and be unable to leave them for the real world.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is no "one" truth. Truth is multi faceted, and cannot be pinned down by a singular definition, and changes with each person. I also agree that the search for a singular, objective truth, be it detailed or a vast, cosmic definition, could drive an individual mad. Perhaps, as humans, we are meant to sit back and let the truth come to us.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are universal truths and personal truths. I also like how you say that truth is hard to define, there are a lot of ways that people can define truth and there are no right answer. I also agree that true can take over someone's life and cloud them from reality. This is so true, that people are afraid to face the problem and at last, fall into the world of imagination.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that truth is beyond our understanding and that it is impossible to pin it down. Connecting to that everyone has their own personal truth that is shaped by their life. There is no one truth to pin down. There are some universal truths, such at 5+5=10, but most things are not agreed upon in society. Different cultures have different beliefs, customs, and views of the world. Everyone may see the same thing but interpret it differently. This is why truth is not a destination but a journey to find what you believe.
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