ConclusionConclusion

Chapter 14Chapter 14

TOK IITOK II

3 Theories Regarding Truth3 Theories Regarding Truth

(1) Correspondence Theory – truth is (1) Correspondence Theory – truth is as it appears to be – facts are facts.as it appears to be – facts are facts.

Criticism (s)Criticism (s)1.1. Problem with factsProblem with facts – Are you really sure – Are you really sure

that Paris is the capital of France?that Paris is the capital of France?

2.2. Correspondence is never perfectCorrespondence is never perfect – truth – truth is never exactly up the actual experienceis never exactly up the actual experience

3.3. Truth cannot be determined in isolationTruth cannot be determined in isolation – can’t you perception deceive you? What – can’t you perception deceive you? What you see must fit in your coherenceyou see must fit in your coherence

3 Theories Regarding Truth3 Theories Regarding Truth (2) Coherence Theory – a proposition is true (2) Coherence Theory – a proposition is true

if it fits our overall set of beliefsif it fits our overall set of beliefs Criticism (s)Criticism (s)

1.1. Coherence is not sufficient for truthCoherence is not sufficient for truth – some things make sense but they are – some things make sense but they are not the truth (Oliver Stone’s not the truth (Oliver Stone’s J.F.KJ.F.K theory) theory)

2.2. Coherence cannot exclude crazy Coherence cannot exclude crazy beliefsbeliefs – moon missions were faked to – moon missions were faked to make the Earth look roundmake the Earth look round

3.3. 3) 3) Coherence may lead to Coherence may lead to complacencycomplacency – reject what doesn’t fit – reject what doesn’t fit (counterintuitive in science for (counterintuitive in science for progress).progress).

3 Theories Regarding Truth3 Theories Regarding Truth

(3) Pragmatic Theory – a proposition is (3) Pragmatic Theory – a proposition is true if it is useful or works in practice.true if it is useful or works in practice.

Criticism (s)Criticism (s)1.1. A statement can be useful but no true and A statement can be useful but no true and

true but not usefultrue but not useful - (not all laws apply equally - (not all laws apply equally nor are all concepts practically used)nor are all concepts practically used)

2.2. This theory implies that two contradictory This theory implies that two contradictory beliefs can be both truebeliefs can be both true – Both Christians and – Both Christians and Muslims think their God is the correct one.Muslims think their God is the correct one.

3.3. ““Useful” and “works in practice are too vague Useful” and “works in practice are too vague to give us a workable theory of truthto give us a workable theory of truth – we pick – we pick and choose the right and workable solution sin and choose the right and workable solution sin some situations but not otherssome situations but not others

Can we KNOW the Truth?Can we KNOW the Truth?

Our picture of the world is Our picture of the world is always an interpretation , and always an interpretation , and we can never be sure that our we can never be sure that our interpretation is true.interpretation is true.

Are We Getting Closer to the Are We Getting Closer to the Truth?Truth?

Maybe, but what if the laws of Maybe, but what if the laws of physics broke down tomorrow?physics broke down tomorrow?

Can we really ever discover the Can we really ever discover the truth?truth?

Beyond Dogmatism and Beyond Dogmatism and RelativismRelativism

Dogmatists – are Dogmatists – are convinced of THEIR convinced of THEIR version of the truth.version of the truth. Hitler, Stalin, Hussein were Hitler, Stalin, Hussein were

dogmatistsdogmatists Relativism – we must be Relativism – we must be

careful herecareful here There are some things we There are some things we

can’t tolerate and “live and can’t tolerate and “live and let live” – moral truths let live” – moral truths exist.exist.

Arguments AGAINST Arguments AGAINST RelativismRelativism

1) The fact that we know something 1) The fact that we know something to be true does not mean that there to be true does not mean that there is no truth of the matteris no truth of the matter

2) Statements such as “there is no 2) Statements such as “there is no truth” are self refuting.truth” are self refuting.

3) Relativism indices truth to such 3) Relativism indices truth to such things as personal preferences, things as personal preferences, persuasion, and powerpersuasion, and power

Degrees of TruthDegrees of TruthMaybe truth is an Maybe truth is an idealideal

– is unattainable like all – is unattainable like all ideals but does give us ideals but does give us a direction for the quest a direction for the quest for knowledge.for knowledge.

Truths may be replaced Truths may be replaced by future truths, but it by future truths, but it gives us a starting point gives us a starting point for bringing us closer to for bringing us closer to the REAL truth.the REAL truth.

Degrees of TruthDegrees of TruthThe Cubist Theory of TruthThe Cubist Theory of Truth – the – the

more perspectives we have on a subject more perspectives we have on a subject or person, the closer we get to the truth.or person, the closer we get to the truth.Empiricism in scienceEmpiricism in scienceDiaries of soldiers describing the same Diaries of soldiers describing the same

battlebattleDifferent perspectives ENRICH our Different perspectives ENRICH our

understanding of the UNDERLYING truth.understanding of the UNDERLYING truth.

What Price for Truth?What Price for Truth?

Do we naturally see the truth?Do we naturally see the truth? Even though TRUTH often stares us Even though TRUTH often stares us

right in the face we…right in the face we…1.1. Put up Put up defense mechanismsdefense mechanisms – selective – selective

perceptionperception

2.2. Make Make rationalizationsrationalizations – make up bad – make up bad reasons to justify beliefsreasons to justify beliefs

3.3. Practice communal reinforcementPractice communal reinforcement – – mix with people who have the same beliefs mix with people who have the same beliefs purposely.purposely.

What Price for Truth?What Price for Truth?

Some things we don’t want to know – Some things we don’t want to know – ignorance is bliss.ignorance is bliss.

Truth avoided in the Truth avoided in the short-runshort-run may may come back to haunt you in the come back to haunt you in the long-long-runrun..An eating disorderAn eating disorderTaking on more than you can handleTaking on more than you can handleIgnoring a medical problemIgnoring a medical problem

Should We Seek the Truth?Should We Seek the Truth?

Some say to follow Some say to follow the truth no matter the truth no matter where it leads.where it leads.

Knowledge is not free Knowledge is not free – it has an – it has an investment of time investment of time and money that and money that could be spent could be spent elsewhere.elsewhere.

Knowledge can be Knowledge can be dangerous (science dangerous (science can be a double-can be a double-edged sword.edged sword.

Should We Seek the Truth?Should We Seek the Truth?

Technology Technology IS IS and and WILL BEWILL BE the next the next big hurdle in the search for big hurdle in the search for knowledge (ethically speaking)knowledge (ethically speaking)Nuclear physicsNuclear physicsNanotechnologyNanotechnologyDNA researchDNA research

Think about how each of these is Think about how each of these is greatgreat and and problematic problematic in the in the applicationapplication of that knowledge. of that knowledge.

WisdomWisdomGood JudgmentGood Judgment – knowledge, – knowledge,

experience, and practical engagement experience, and practical engagement together.together.

Breadth of Vision –Breadth of Vision – We must see all We must see all perspectives to solve the world’s perspectives to solve the world’s problems.problems.

Self-knowledgeSelf-knowledge – we must have to – we must have to courage to seek knowledge to question courage to seek knowledge to question our current convictions to improve our current convictions to improve ourselves.ourselves.

WisdomWisdomResponsibility Responsibility – we must practice – we must practice

patience before make knowledge patience before make knowledge claims (be sure of what we profess – claims (be sure of what we profess – intellectual virtues must be intellectual virtues must be practiced.practiced.HonestyHonestyPerseverancePerseveranceCourageCourageHumilityHumilityTolerance Tolerance

WisdomWisdomIntellectual humilityIntellectual humility – We – We

must not be arrogant is our must not be arrogant is our knowledge – a sense of wonder knowledge – a sense of wonder keeps things in a fresh keeps things in a fresh perspective and deletes biases perspective and deletes biases created by arrogance.created by arrogance.The world is more than a The world is more than a

collection of knowledge as a dull collection of knowledge as a dull catalog of facts to be examined catalog of facts to be examined (tested over)(tested over)

READ!!READ!!

Ghosts Ghosts p. 463p. 463Is life merely made up of ghosts?Is life merely made up of ghosts?

IntegrityIntegrity p. 465 p. 465What is intellectual integrity?What is intellectual integrity?What 3 things must a person What 3 things must a person not not

do or do or dodo to show intellectual to show intellectual integrity?integrity?