Semester 2 Project: Position Paper

The Aspects of Truth

Emily Eidler

May 1, 2015
Mr. Lindow
British Literature

Truth has many different meanings according to twentieth century philosophers,

the Bible and to individuals. Words associated with truth include sincerity, honesty,
certainty, accuracy and many more. Some philosophers back in the day thought that
truth was merely scientifical and associated specific equations to figure out the truth of

something. The Bible speaks of truth as Jesus. Truth is wholesome and is something
that many people today seem to take for granted. People have a hard time deciphering
the truth from a lie because of how corrupt our world has become. I believe that Jesus is
truth. Acts of faith and valor come together into truth. The Bibles meaning and speaking
of truth is what I believe in and stand by.
Twentieth century philosophers had many different ideas of what they thought
truth was. Gilbert Harman, an American philosopher and epistemologist, believed that
the only knowledge we have of truth is what we are taught when we are growing up. He
says that it is possible to believe something to be truth even if the truth of it is unknown
(Gilbert Harman Web). I agree with Harman in his belief that what we perceive of truth
when we are growing up is solely based off of what we are taught as children. Our idea
of truth can be skewed throughout our lives as we go through trials and tribulations and
test our basis of truth. Another epistemologist, Karl Popper, had a different view on truth.
Popper related truth to actuality of a sentence. For example, The snow is white. if and
only if the snow is actually white. Popper went further into this theory of sentence truth
and adapted it to a confusing equation (Karl Popper Web). I do not agree with Poppers
view on truth. The sentence idea makes sense but there is more to truth than that. I also
dont see the purpose of an equation behind truth because what values would you enter
into it. There is truth in science but there is truth all around us as well.
C.S. Lewis, although not titled an epistemologist, has his own view of truth aside
from the other two previously mentioned philosophers. C.S. Lewis is a very well
accomplished author and made his stand on truth known to many in his words printed
on paper. His knowledge of truth shaped the man he grew up to be. He made many

statements that human failure and imperfection can lead people on the pursuit of truth
and what each individual perceives truth as. Lewis always makes sure that his point
gets across that truth is a real life thing (The Life Web). Confusion about truth isnt bad
but good because it allows more depth to come from the nature of truth. I strongly agree
with Lewis views on truth. Children learn the difference between true and false as they
grow up. Truth isnt impossible to find. It may be hard to find in some cases, but it will
eventually shine through the hard times.
The Bible is the source of truth that I always run to whenever I am in doubt or
struggle. John 14:6 says, Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the father except through me. (57 Web). This verse right here states that
Jesus is truth. Jesus is real and nothing about Him is false. Many people argue this fact
because there is no proof that He exists. I disagree because my faith in Christ is
stronger than any doubt that could be presented to Him. I may stray away from time to
time but I will always stand strong on my Rock and Redeemer. A definition of truth that
can be drawn from the Bible is: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will,
character, glory, and being of God; Truth is the self-expression of God (Grace Web).
The word truth is used in the NIV Bible 228 times which shows how real and important
the meaning of truth is to our faith (Experts Web).
My definition of truth is hard to explain in words. I agree completely with what the
Bible says about truth but I also have my ideas that I have adopted into my life as I have
grown up. I have always been taught in school that truth is the opposite of lies. Yet I
would always question what I could believe is truth or falsity. Truth also plays in with
trust. If you trust what someone is telling you, you could say that what they are telling

you is the truth. That is a difficult idea to think of but I definitely stand by my belief and
faith that Jesus is truth. He will never fail me nor lead me in a way Im not supposed to
go. His truth will teach me what my idea of truth will be and continue to grow.

Bibliography
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