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The truth is only an interpretation

9/19/2017

12 Comments

 
“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.
Picture
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.

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.
Please add more of these previous truths in the comment section... 

​​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.

Until next week,
Martie​

ShoutOuts

@ warnerwords: Fake-degrees-fooling-education
@ marcoujor: Introducing-mike-friedman
@ flashpress: Farmacopeia-heartland-horses-you
12 Comments
Angelia S. Phillips link
9/19/2017 08:19:53 pm

Martie,

I was reading down the list and nearly laughed out loud when I saw the one about the world being flat. It cracked me up because I've been seeing loads of comments on the social sites by people called flat earthers who believe just that. The world is flat. ;)

I'm not a flat earther and can't help but wonder how they came to this conclusion, and they're (thus far) unshakable in their assessment.

Reply
Martie link
9/20/2017 07:22:13 pm

Angelia

I've heard about the Flat Earthers, and still can't wrap my mind around their so-called evidence. Not able and willing to believe them, even laughing at them, even being disgusted because they disregard scientific evidence, I can envision the reaction of people to Pythagoras who first proposed that the Earth was round (± 500 BC), and then to Anaxagoras (±430 BC), then to the great Aristotle (350 BC), Aristarchus , Eratosthenes, all the way to Columbus (1451–1506). In other words, it takes people up to at least a thousand years to accept that a truth is actually a lie. Considering the Flat Earthers, some people NEVER get there.

BTW, I have lost my ability to remember names, so I had to refresh my memory via Google. Thank you, Uncle Google!

Reply
William Holland link
9/19/2017 08:47:46 pm

Oh my, what a topic! We see so much of this in evidence today, the unshakable belief by so many that their truth is valid and other truths are invalid, despite all "proof" to the contrary. Fake news and all that...only fake, of course, when it disputes your truth. LOL

Reply
Martie link
9/20/2017 07:29:58 pm

William

Because the truth is truly the smoke of opinion, people should rather develop their ability to tolerate each other than arguing about whose truth is the real truth. Down here people are killing each other because they can't agree to disagree, and they absolutely refuse to cooperate for the sake of their mutual goal - peace and prosperity. Sad!

Reply
Rolly A. Chabot link
9/20/2017 12:30:13 am

Hi Martie...

What a great subject and one that leaves us questioning constantly the claims we see. In todays world of social media and instant information the truth can become very twisted. Read the thread comments and before long you may question if the world is flat.
I have made it a practice over my life to research, research and do more research.
Early in my writing career I was scammed, thankfully on a small scale but I was scammed. One must do their research... type in the name of the individual or company and add tags such as scam, fraud or rip off and protect yourself...

Hugs and Blessings from Canada

Reply
Martie link
9/20/2017 07:41:04 pm

Rolly,

I am quite gullible and naive, and often the victim of a scammer, so I am compelled to rely on Google in order not to make a fool of myself. After chocolate, I think Google is the best thing that happened to the world.

Hugs from SA!

BTW, the earth is round, so why do they fly north from SA instead of south to Canada? Don't you think flying south would be shorter than flying north? Times like this I wish I had one of those desktop globes in my house.

Reply
Paula
9/20/2017 05:01:48 am

Martie.....How much fun is this? My head still buzzes from all the alleged truisms repeated to us as children~~especially by our loving parents. Of course, they must have believed it all true or they'd have not passed it on....right? We can only hope. My late parents were wonderful, happy & hardworking people who made sure my sister knew we were loved............BUT...Oh Boy, did we learn the Mantras? You better believe we did!
"Don't cross your eyes....they'll STAY that way!"
"Don't tickle a small child...they'll grow up to be stutterers!"
"Don't hold your breath....it causes brain damage!"
"Never bite on a pencil...you'll get lead poisoning!"
"Never leak a secret....your tongue will freeze!"
Yes, those were the days. These were just the simple things we learned much later were just not true. Most of these were ways to frighten kids into good behavior! That is now known as "cheating to discipline!" LOL If your kids won't behave, scare the HECK out of them!
The enormous lies were and still are, told by our Professors, Pastors & Politicians. Always keep an open mind, remain steadfast in your search for knowledge AND LEARN TO QUESTION "SO-CALLED" AUTHORITY. So so true, Martie..LOL and I hate to say this, but the fact that we'll continue through life to discover what may have been true yesterday, may be quite different today.....well, THAT will always be true!!
Enough to either make us all batty or damned sure we stay on our toes!!...........Hugs girlfriend, Paula

Reply
Paula link
9/20/2017 06:39:36 pm

Oh Paula, how many of those were used to turn us into proper adults? Don't eat when you are in a horizontal position, 'cause you'll grow horns.... (Of course, who wanted to be frightened by a child choking on a toffee?)

But this one takes the cake: You know my friend, Mr. B? When he was about 10-11 his father told him that he would die the moment he touches a woman. Poor B got his first shock the first time he thought about a woman, when rigor mortis suddenly started where he didn't expected it to start. So, he spent most of his teenage-phase suppressing thoughts about woman. He nevertheless tried touching when he was 18, and lo and behold, rigor mortis promptly started to set it. This is why he was a virgin on his wedding day, and why it took him months to get over the lie he was told by his loving and caring father.

Thanks for making me laugh, Paula!

Reply
Maria link
9/20/2017 02:42:23 pm

Dear Martie,

I eagerly look forward to what topic 'we' will be discussing each week at your congenial and welcoming Sherry Fountain. I enjoy the comments you get which lends to the 'group discussion'.

To me, truth / reality is transient. One of the best professional examples is the client with a distorted body image (as in anorexia nervosa) who sees a 'fat' person in the mirror (when the objective weight scale says quite the opposite).

I challenge myself (and now my students) to listen actively to clarify the reality of their patients.

Thankfully at the end of the day I have 'my reality' (as up to date as possible with what I am aware of...)

Hope you're having a peaceful week. Love you and hugs, mar

Reply
Maria link
9/20/2017 07:55:20 pm

Dear Maria

I can see us standing in a foyer, sipping cherry, discussing interesting topics. But have you noticed that in reality people sipping cherry in foyers don't discuss serious topics. Most of the time they're not even registering what they are saying and hearing, because they are too busy looking who else are standing in the foyer sipping cherry. I am so glad organize concerts and other social gatherings is no longer one of my duties.

My heart goes out to the victims of anorexia nervosa! They are a perfect example of people interpreting ugliness as beauty and vice versa. I would say they are intoxicated by the smoke of opinion.

Lots of hugs to you :)

Reply
Mike
9/20/2017 07:42:22 pm

Wait, 'Spinach is a rich source of iron' isn't true? What about Popeye?

What an interesting topic. Wasn't there a planet, that was always taught as a planet demoted a couple of years ago?

The world is too small to only believe what we witness ourselves. We are going to have to trust in some truths until they fade, or we do.

Reply
Martie link
9/20/2017 08:09:16 pm

Mike

Lol! I thought about Popeye. He was the scoundrel who spread the lie about spinach.

I think you are referring to Pluto. Let Google comes to our rescue!

".... In 2005, Eris, a dwarf planet in the scattered disc which is 27% more massive than Pluto, was discovered. This led the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to define the term "planet"..... That definition excluded Pluto and reclassified it as a dwarf planet..."

So there, indeed truths that recently became untruths.

I believe we should accept what is imported to us - among others that smoking nicotine is a serious health hazard. But then, accepting and obeying the truth are two totally different actions.


Reply



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