by Jim Wood

Created on: September 11, 2008   Last Updated: December 11, 2009

Conditional:

When we must think of a question in terms of its relationship to outside factors, I think that makes any answer we get conditional. The most apparent proof of truth seems to be in mathematics, geometry and physics. We are persuaded they are giving results because the answers always seem to come out the same when the method is applied in the same way. In this instance, we can only be confident that the "truth" is real if we carefully apply the very same conditions each time.

One clever author mentioned the assumption that all triangles will have corners of degree measures that will total 180 degrees. He felt that even though we can not test the infinite number of the possible triangular configurations, we should accept the statement as true, because, possibly, as I see it, no one has devised a triangle that shows otherwise. To me this is like saying the statement is true until it is shown to be otherwise and that serves to make the "truth" conditional.

I do not see the ability to get the same result by the application of a mathematical formula as a kind of truth because it is best described, I think as correct or incorrect. We do not relate the result as false as the opposite to truth. Possibly it is just my way, but in my philosophy truth has nothing to do with mathematics, colors, the weather or so many other things that have degrees of definition.

We live in one environment where we have created a system of measures and principles that seem quite accurate, or true to us. I find it difficult to consider a circumstance wherein truth could be absolute - my first reaction is to ask to whom? I tend to think that beauty and truth are both to be found in the eyes of the beholder (to quote an unknown wise-guy).

People have been willing to permit burning at the stake for what they thought was truth on no more evidence they had two thousand years ago than they have today; none at all. I would argue that the conditions wherein truth is being sought are going to determine what is true.

By the framing of the question, we lock ourselves in to a conditional truth determined by the manner in which the question is asked. When I was working I probably questioned hundreds of witnesses in trials and many hundreds in depositions. As amazing as it may sound to you, there were very few people that I would have labeled as perjurers. Many times their testimony was not controlling in the outcome of the case, but most were busy telling the truth as they saw it, some times flavored by what they wanted it to be.

So, will the Sun rise in the East tomorrow? Yes, if you view it from here on Earth. If it does, it was true for only that one day. Tomorrows down the road must wait for the proper conditions to occur.

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