Yes it is that time for another Let’s Blog Off & this week’s is dealing with, is there a difference between a fact and the truth? As stated in the preamble; Finding truth has been a human preoccupation for as long as there have been humans. Aristotle defined truth as “To say of what is that it is not, or of what is not that it is, is false, while to say of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not, is true.” Aquinas picked up Aristotle’s ball and ran with it and held that “[truth is] equation of thing and intellect.”
In such hyperbole-laden times as these having a basic, philosophical discussion about facts and truth is a healthy exercise. Humanity’s greatest thinkers have left a tremendous framework to guide these discussions but at the end of the day, each of us decides these things for ourselves. So for this Blog Off we’d like to ask you, what is a fact and what is truth and how are they different?
As is our custom, we will be linking to all those participating in this week’s Lets Blog Off at the end of the article & who knows, maybe we might find a new Aristotle or Aquinas in our mix…
While there have been many theological and philosophical discussions on this in the past, in many ways they are irrelevant to many of us in our normal lives. What isn’t irrelevant is how people use them today trying to sell, swindle, or make far reaching policies based on a supposed “truth’s” or a “fact.” One line that has always stuck with me is “the best lie is 99% truth”.
One reason we started doing a myth & misconception series not only here, but on our Green Building Solutions site was to start helping consumers stop getting taken by many salesmen using facts to sell a solution, while ignoring the other facts that apply. Just like many other area’s in life, one must check out all the fine print & if you don’t see any you need to find out where it is.
I would have to say that my biggest issue though revolves around scientists that use the word truth to apply to theories. I am sorry but just because you observe X does not make it a scientific fact, nor entitle it to be considered anything more than observed results. While it is true (hopefully) that you observed said results & your report is truthful (again hopefully) you can’t say that it is “Truth” without numerous other tests, etc… to back it up. For example one of my biggest pet peeves is with GWP.
GWP in short stands for “Global Warming Potential” and for many fans of using Fiberglass or cellulose insulation only – it became an overnight selling bonanza. Why you can’t use foam, you will be doing all this damage to the environment & contributing to global warming. Some individuals even took the time to come up with these nice looking GWP calculators & charts to help prove their point. Unfortunately, for any that truly look into it, a few items might jump out at you; the key word Potential, scientists saying they don’t understand everything but the modeling shows… we have a 30% margin of error built into this calculation, and another 30% in this calculation (which when combined is a 60+% error factor), etc…
As for the title, well anyone that has been to or at least seen a court show knows that is what ones says as they take the stand to tell the “truth,” while a judge or jury sits there to see which truth is more credible. With the many truths & facts out there, you might want to remember that when it comes to buying, believing, or doing something you might want to also consider the credibility of the statements.
Well said. Global warming—as of this very moment—is almost certainly a fact. What is not a fact, I think, is the cause of global warming. Maybe man has played a role in it. Maybe he has not. We do know—as a fact—that global warming has occurred in the past, long before man ever appeared. From that it does not follow necessarily that man plays no role in what is now happening—nor does it follow that because man burns carbon that this alone accounts for the global warming now in evidence. It could also be just a fluctuation of a few years endurance, which would not be global warming at all—just a momentary glitch, so to speak.
Well said. Global warming—as of this very moment—is almost certainly a fact. What is not a fact, I think, is the cause of global warming. Maybe man has played a role in it. Maybe he has not. We do know—as a fact—that global warming has occurred in the past, long before man ever appeared. From that it does not follow necessarily that man plays no role in what is now happening—nor does it follow that because man burns carbon that this alone accounts for the global warming now in evidence. It could also be just a fluctuation of a few years endurance, which would not be global warming at all—just a momentary glitch, so to speak.
Well said. Global warming—as of this very moment—is almost certainly a fact. What is not a fact, I think, is the cause of global warming. Maybe man has played a role in it. Maybe he has not. We do know—as a fact—that global warming has occurred in the past, long before man ever appeared. From that it does not follow necessarily that man plays no role in what is now happening—nor does it follow that because man burns carbon that this alone accounts for the global warming now in evidence. It could also be just a fluctuation of a few years endurance, which would not be global warming at all—just a momentary glitch, so to speak.
Thanks for addressing the concept of scientific “truth” and how it creeps into our media and marketing. Aristotle or Aquinas would be proud. That’s a fact.
Thanks for addressing the concept of scientific “truth” and how it creeps into our media and marketing. Aristotle or Aquinas would be proud. That’s a fact.
Great points. We often say that theories are truth and that is dangerous, if not only to science as a field of study.
Thanks everyone for the comments & thoughts – they are appreciated. While I do believe that Global Warming is happening, it is all the associated BS that they try to associate with it that is causing more issues than it is solving. (i.e. GWP, the EPA, etc…)
As I wrote about in the http://blog.sls-construction.com/2010/sustainability-green-building-and-you article  there are 6 overlooked facts, amoung other things brought out by Llewellyn van Wyk that really cut to the chase for me… (The 6 facts of GW)
Fact #1 – the earth is not in a static state, it is always changingFact #2 & 3 – There have been 5 complete species extinction events that are known about in the last 4.5 billion years & there will probably be more before the sun and our planet reaches its end of life in another 4.5 billion yearsFact #4 – the carbon being released is the result of the temperature increasing and not the other way aroundFact #5 – We are in the 4th known cycle of increasing global temperaturesFact #6 – While we maybe in the 4th known cycle, we have no idea or proof about what will happen if we continue adding to the carbon in the air (1958: 315 PPM — 2010: 390 PPM)
Thanks everyone for the comments & thoughts – they are appreciated. While I do believe that Global Warming is happening, it is all the associated BS that they try to associate with it that is causing more issues than it is solving. (i.e. GWP, the EPA, etc…)
As I wrote about in the http://blog.sls-construction.com/2010/sustainability-green-building-and-you article  there are 6 overlooked facts, amoung other things brought out by Llewellyn van Wyk that really cut to the chase for me… (The 6 facts of GW)
Fact #1 – the earth is not in a static state, it is always changingFact #2 & 3 – There have been 5 complete species extinction events that are known about in the last 4.5 billion years & there will probably be more before the sun and our planet reaches its end of life in another 4.5 billion yearsFact #4 – the carbon being released is the result of the temperature increasing and not the other way aroundFact #5 – We are in the 4th known cycle of increasing global temperaturesFact #6 – While we maybe in the 4th known cycle, we have no idea or proof about what will happen if we continue adding to the carbon in the air (1958: 315 PPM — 2010: 390 PPM)
Thanks everyone for the comments & thoughts – they are appreciated. While I do believe that Global Warming is happening, it is all the associated BS that they try to associate with it that is causing more issues than it is solving. (i.e. GWP, the EPA, etc…)
As I wrote about in the http://blog.sls-construction.com/2010/sustainability-green-building-and-you article there are 6 overlooked facts, amoung other things brought out by Llewellyn van Wyk that really cut to the chase for me… (The 6 facts of GW)
Fact #1 – the earth is not in a static state, it is always changingFact #2 & 3 – There have been 5 complete species extinction events that are known about in the last 4.5 billion years & there will probably be more before the sun and our planet reaches its end of life in another 4.5 billion yearsFact #4 – the carbon being released is the result of the temperature increasing and not the other way aroundFact #5 – We are in the 4th known cycle of increasing global temperaturesFact #6 – While we maybe in the 4th known cycle, we have no idea or proof about what will happen if we continue adding to the carbon in the air (1958: 315 PPM — 2010: 390 PPM)
Great points. We often say that theories are truth and that is dangerous, if not only to science as a field of study.
Thanks for addressing the concept of scientific “truth” and how it creeps into our media and marketing. Aristotle or Aquinas would be proud. That’s a fact.
Thanks for addressing the concept of scientific “truth” and how it creeps into our media and marketing. Aristotle or Aquinas would be proud. That’s a fact.