Understanding Philosophical Concepts of Truth and Knowledge

GAIA: Truth and Knowledge

To Know: Philosophical Stances

• Dogmatism: Without doubt, it is true. People are sure they know the truth (sineskortasuna).
• Skepticism: It is impossible to get any reliable knowledge because there is not enough evidence to confirm.
• Subjectivism: There is no universal truth. What is true is available only to each subject; everything is relative, depending on each person's point of view.
• Pragmatism: That which is true is what is useful.
• Criticism (Kritizismoa): It attempts to answer how far the capacity of our knowledge can reach, addressing dogmatism and skepticism.
• Perspectivism: Reality can be known, but different points of view must be taken into account. By bringing together these different viewpoints, the truth can potentially be reached.

The True Origins of the Word "Truth"

To clarify the true meaning of the term, it should be studied in three languages:

• Greek: Aletheia, meaning "that which is not hidden." It is the opposite of pseudos (falsehood). Therefore, it signifies the discovery of the truth of things.
• Latin: Veritas, which indicates accuracy. It concerns the authenticity of the received word, lying opposite to falsehood.
• Hebrew: Emurah, used to express the true sense of confidence.

The Criteria for Truth

Discrimination between true and false lies in applying the following criteria for truth:

• Authority: A person who knows about the matter confirms what we state as true.
• Tradition of Truth: That which has been considered true in the past.
• Correspondence between Reality and Thought (Elkarrikotasuna): We check if what we think is true corresponds with empirical reality.
• Logical Coherence: This is the logical-mathematical criterion. If there is no contradiction, it aligns with the same system.
• Utility (User): An explanation is true if reality serves as a useful guide for us.
• Evidence: It is not enough to simply state something; intuitive or rational evidence is required to accept something as true (egiazkotzat).

Theories of Truth

Throughout history, various theories have defined truth to explain and understand it. The most relevant theories are:

Reciprocity or Fitness Theory

The basic structure of truth appears based on this theory, as other elements are involved:

• Object: That which is being represented.
• Representation: The subject's representation of the object.

The relationship between these two elements is called elkarrikotasuna (interrelation), where the object and the representation of the object are inter-related.

• Thomas Aquinas held that truth is the suitability of the object and understanding.
• Ludwig Wittgenstein said that to verify the truth and reality, we must stay away from the images we have of actions.

Pragmatist Theory of Truth

This theory moves beyond theoretical suitability by adding a practical dimension. It considers the usefulness of an explanation in solving life's problems.

It suggests that what is appropriate or adapted now may not be valid later, and what is useful to one person might be useful to others in a different era.