Philosophical Perspectives on Truth and Reality

Phenomenology and Hermeneutics

With the intention of overcoming the division and opposition between realism and idealism in knowledge, both phenomenology and hermeneutics emerged. The core theme of phenomenology is "going to the things themselves," aiming to understand what things are in their pure and simple presence to consciousness, the subject.

While attempting to mediate between idealism and realism, phenomenology prioritizes consciousness, as consciousness apprehends things themselves (similar to idealism). However, it also acknowledges that objects do not conform to the subject (as in realism). To achieve objectivity, it is necessary to shed all prejudices, theories, and interpretations through a process of reflection called "reduction," thereby reaching the universal essence of all particular phenomena.

Hermeneutics, although closely linked to phenomenology, maintains significant differences. Hermeneutics seeks to understand human actions and historical reality by interpreting every event in its uniqueness, striving to grasp their meaning. Thus, it posits that there are no pure facts, only interpretations.

Consensual Theory of Truth

Thinkers like Peirce, Apel, and Habermas highlight the crucial role of dialogue as a cooperative framework for discovering the truth of propositions.

When we assert something as true, we imply that we possess sufficient reasons to convince other participants of its veracity. This requires open discussion, free from external pressures on the search for truth itself. Individuals who genuinely seek truth are willing to engage in dialogue with others, without coercion or deception, to ascertain if they can gain the assent of other participants and generate a consensus on what they hold to be true.

The arguments presented in this dialogue can employ various methods to verify truth, including:

• Correspondence: Checking if a statement matches reality.
• Coherence: Assessing if a statement fits logically with other accepted truths.

However, consensus itself is not an ultimate criterion of truth, as participants can make mistakes or lack relevant information. Therefore, scientific truths are always revisable. The fundamental contribution of this theory is to demonstrate that human beings have no other way to access truth than by providing reasons and listening to others, with the ultimate aim of reaching a consensus on what is considered true.