“What everybody passes by as true today may turn out to be falsehood tomorrow… The truth is merely the smoke of opinion.” - Henry David Thoreau.
Others may have worded their idea of the truth perhaps more comprehensibly -
“In our constantly evolving discipline, what is true today often turns out to be not true or only half true when examined in the light of subsequent scientific discovery.” - Joseph S. Alpert, Professor of Medicine.
“All things are subject to interpretation. Whatever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.” - Friedrich Nietzsche.
And then we get the scenario where I see and hear something you haven’t seen and heard simply because you were busy seeing and hearing what my brain didn’t register even while I was looking and listening. A person’s future depends on this kind of truth, which could be disastrous for those who have violated the Law.
Others may have worded their idea of the truth perhaps more comprehensibly -
“In our constantly evolving discipline, what is true today often turns out to be not true or only half true when examined in the light of subsequent scientific discovery.” - Joseph S. Alpert, Professor of Medicine.
“All things are subject to interpretation. Whatever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.” - Friedrich Nietzsche.
And then we get the scenario where I see and hear something you haven’t seen and heard simply because you were busy seeing and hearing what my brain didn’t register even while I was looking and listening. A person’s future depends on this kind of truth, which could be disastrous for those who have violated the Law.
Image by geralt @ pixabay.com
What exactly is interpretation?
“Interpretation is a mental representation of the meaning or significance of something.” - WordWeb
“Everyone in a complex system has a slightly different interpretation. The more interpretations we gather, the easier it becomes to gain a sense of the whole.” - Margaret J Wheatley.
“We see and hear and otherwise experience very largely as we do because the language habits of our community predispose certain choices of interpretation.” - Edward Sapir.
“You see, it’s never the environment, it’s never the events of our lives, but the meaning we attach to the events, (thus) how we interpret them, that shapes who we are today and who we’ll become tomorrow.” - Anthony Roberts, Writer and public speaker.
“Everyone in a complex system has a slightly different interpretation. The more interpretations we gather, the easier it becomes to gain a sense of the whole.” - Margaret J Wheatley.
“We see and hear and otherwise experience very largely as we do because the language habits of our community predispose certain choices of interpretation.” - Edward Sapir.
“You see, it’s never the environment, it’s never the events of our lives, but the meaning we attach to the events, (thus) how we interpret them, that shapes who we are today and who we’ll become tomorrow.” - Anthony Roberts, Writer and public speaker.
Some things that were considered to be true in the past
Although some truths were proven false by modern scientists, most truths were merely interpretation based on belief and conviction. Some examples of these 'truths' are:
- The world is flat, firmly established on pillars.
- The sun revolves around the earth; the earth is the centre of the universe.
- Smoking cigarettes is not dangerous (still published in my 1970-medical encyclopaedia!)
- Working and participating in sports on a Sunday is a sin,
- Murderers should be killed – an eye for an eye! (Some countries still carry the death penalty.)
- Aspirin is harmless to adults and children.
- DDT (pesticide) makes healthier homes.
- Asbestos is not a serious health hazard.
- Children should be seen and not heard.
- Spare the rod and spoil the child
- The whiter your skin, the more superior you are.
- Men are superior to women.
- A women's place is in the kitchen
- Eating sugar gives you diabetes.
- Eating fat makes you fat.
- Whiskey on an empty stomach cures ulcers.
- Margarine is healthier than real butter.
- Eating pork is a sin.
- Spinach is a rich source of iron.
Evidence
When it comes to the kind of truth that determines a person’s future, interpretation has little value. For this truth we need evidence such as certificates stating achievements and qualifications, and all the evidence needed to prove that someone has violated the Law.
Conclusion
I believe we all agree that something is true in accordance with fact and/or reality, in other words, truth is a fact or belief that is accepted as the truth.
Obviously due to ongoing mental and emotional growth and discoveries made by scientists, today’s truth could indeed be tomorrow’s untruth.
Obviously due to ongoing mental and emotional growth and discoveries made by scientists, today’s truth could indeed be tomorrow’s untruth.
Until next week, | ShoutOuts |
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