Truth as a Philosophical Concept Essay

Truth stands in stark contrast with lies. There is a clear line that demarcates honesty and hypocrisy. A story can only take one of the sides: it could be true or false. Giving a true story is a reserve of the source, and their intentions to remain honest are shaped by the deliberate will to hide the truth or their ignorance of the real facts. However, it is important to disseminate information that is true to create a body of useful knowledge which is a reputable source of reference. In the light of these remarks, it is of utmost importance to tell the truth regardless of its immensity. The proposition that truth should be given in small doses is itself false. This proposition is supported by the argument that too much of honesty is likely to have detrimental impacts on the recipient. Again, the argument to support the proposition is false. Truth is not a thorn to hurt. On the contrary, it is in fact a soothing phenomenon that creates trust among people and establishes positive connections. It builds stronger societies that uphold moral obligations. Regardless of the criticism that surrounds honesty, trustworthiness, and credibility, truth is paramount is all spheres and should be passed across plain, unadulterated, and unmasked.

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The place of truth is the growth of civilization is indispensible. Truth is a core philosophical concept, and philosophy made remarkable contribution to the growth of early civilizations. The teachings of Socrates and Aristotle helped to establish social systems that were based on facts rather than heresy. In the modern world, the importance of truth cannot be overstated. When political leaders uphold truth and accountability, they draw unwavering support from their subjects, and in the process, the nation is established through by a governance system where the leaders and the citizens are on the same side.

Regarding governance and leadership, the dissemination of information is important in molding great leaders both in the present and the future. Through truthfulness, the education system becomes reliable to produce adults that uphold the highest moral standing. Such citizens in turn build their families based on the tents of truth and honesty. What begins as a novel principle of truth ends up as a philosophy and a guide to nationhood. The importance of full disclosure of information thus becomes fundamental in the life of a child. It means therefore, that withholding truth for whatever reason is detrimental to the holistic development of a society and the nation at large.

There are two theories of truth that support the argument that there exists a spectrum of truth. In other words, truth lies in a grey scale that ranges from absolute truth to blatant lies. The correspondence theory, for instance, holds that a statement is true only if it corresponds to reality (Hunt 120). When a statement deviates from reality, it would be considered a lie. However, it may be true if there is contention about what amounts to reality. For example, if a person says that a particular cup is red in color, this statement would only be true if the cup in question is actually the color described. However, there are some people who do not have color sharpness. Such people would consider this statement false since they do not believe in the appearance of the cup in question. Another theory, coherence, maintains that correspondence does not suffice as the yardstick of truth. In addition to adherence to reality, a true statement must exhibit internal consistency (Hunt 120). This theory is rather difficult in explaining the truth of statements and proposition. Understanding internal consistency requires a thorough analysis of philosophical concepts associated with the statement. Mathematics and geometry, for example, are truthful concepts although they cannot be traced to reality. However, these concepts exhibit internal consistence. In other words, although science is considered true, it would be a lie in reference to correspondence theory. Depending on the point of reference, a statement, therefore, can fall anywhere in the truth spectrum.

In another dimension, truth and lies are two sides of the same coin. While truth delineates all things that are honest, lies are the emblem of dishonesty. Despite the sharp contrast that exists between the two concepts, any lie can be converted to truth depending on the source and the subject matter. The court scenario is a perfect example of the interchangeability of truth with lies. The defense counsel representing a murder suspect, for example, may cite legal clause and parade witnesses that would eventually convince the jury about the innocence of the defendant. In such case, what was initially truth becomes a lie depending on the source, that is, the defense counsel. In the same manner, a true statement can be rendered worthless through the manipulation of cunning individuals. It is universally acceptable that truth is costly for many factors. To avoid the cost implications of telling or endorsing the truth, some people may uplift lies at the expense of truthfulness. This too, depends on the source and the subject manner since it takes a sharp mind to devalue a true statement.

In the light of all these assertions, then, what is the value of truth in the presence of lies? As a rule of thumb, truth supersedes lies in all circumstances. Nonetheless, a lie can reign supreme for a long time until the flipside eventually becomes apparent. In Stephen Benet's "By the Waters of Babylon," the narrator's father and his generation believed that the civilized people who lived in New York were gods due to their sophisticated way of life. In fact, they dreaded visiting "the Place of Gods" due to the powers that existed there (Benet). It took the courage of a transformative young priest to negate what his kinsmen had believed in for a long time. In his pursuit of truth, the young priest visited the "Place of Gods" only to find people who live in the bustling city in the land yonder. Benet's short story is evidence of how ignorance contributes to the propagation of lies. The older priest in the story thought that anybody who behaved in a manner that was more complicated than the way he did was immortal. He did not realize that technology had already brought a new dawn to civilization.

The dissemination of truth is the central theme in Benet's "By the Waters of Babylon." When giving a live account of his encounters in "The Place of gods," the adventurous priest keeps engaging the audience through rhetorical questions that address the subject of lying. "Why should I lie about it?" the priest asks (Benet). He had just discovered about what his elders kept from his for a long time. His father is also adamant about giving out the truth. He refers to truth as "hard deer to hunt." But is it really that difficult to expose the truth? There are indeed challenges in unmasking the truth that has lived under the shadows of lies for a long time. The difficulty of telling the truth, according to Benet, depends on the belief system that people hold. If a lie had dominated a particular space for a long time, then coming up with truth is difficult. However, it is possible to eventually reveal the truth provided that it gradually replaces the preexisting grandeur lies. Indeed, the narrator's father was right in instructing him to avoid "too much truth at once," lest he "may die of it" (Benet)

Conclusion

In conclusion, truth exists in the spectrum, and this explains why there is more than one theory explaining it. In a social setup, truth is responsible for making whole and upright society. It can mold children into responsible adults who can build strong nations. Although truth is the lies' flipside, both concepts are sides of the same coin. Real life scenarios exemplify how simple it is to transform truth into lies. According to Benet's short story of a young man's life changing discoveries, disseminating truth in an environment that is dominated by lies is extremely challenging. However, it is ultimately possible to offer a contrary worldview as long as truth prevails in the end.

Works Cited

Benet, Stephen Vincent. By the waters of Babylon. Dramatic Publishing, 1971.

Hunnt, Mary. Four Theories of Truth: Learning from the Philosophies of Men. Perspective, 120-123.