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Jarod Tuffelmire

English 102

The Truth

6 December 2017

The Truth of the Truth

Depending on what dictionary is used, the word Truth can have upwards of ten

different definitions. Merriam-Webster has four definitions for truth, though each of these has up

to 3 separate definitions. The fact that one source cannot determine a singular definition of the

word goes to show just how complicated the concept of truth can be. Truth is both an objective

and subjective thing. This means that there is a definitive undeniable truth, but also a truth based

on perspective. This can result in two people having different stories on what exactly happened

and each of them telling their own subjective truths.

Truth in the subjective sense is whatever the individual believes to be true. Everyone has

their own personal experiences, views on the world, upbringing, family, knowledge, etc This

leads to everyone forming their own subjective truth based on the information and observations

they are given being processed through these unique views and coming to a conclusion at the

other end. This concept is the eye of the beholder concept and just says that it is up to the

individual to determine what they find as the truth. According to Writing Explained, this

phrase means That beauty is a subjective and personal experience(What Does Beauty). This

subjective truth is formed by everyone all the time.

Truth, as an objective fact is the widely accepted subjective truth that is supported by

facts. The objective truth is that the Earth is spherical in nature. This is supported by many facts

based in science and mathematics as well as observations such as the bottom of ships
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disappearing over the horizon before their masts. Many peoples subjective truth is that the earth

is round thus making it the objective truth. The people who believe that the earth is flat have

their own subjective truth but the objective truth will not be in line with their truth unless the

majority of people believe it as well and it is backed by other facts and observations.

The reason that subjective truths even exist and that there is no real truth is because we,

as living creatures, can only experience the world around us using our senses. Some people even

believe that our senses are unreliable and everything outside of our mind existing is an

uncertainty. This theory is Solipsism and is defined by Dictionary.com as The theory that only

the self exists, or can be proved to exist(Solipsism). The objective truth is that senses differ

from person to person and whereas one person may find something disgusting or ugly, someone

else can find it to be beautiful. This is the whole point of the fine arts. No piece of art or media

can be 100% liked and perfect. This is because while a movie may be objectively bad, people

may still find it enjoyable due to the nature of how a human brain receives these observations

and processes them. All that it means to be good or bad is just what the generally accepted

opinion is. The fine arts test our ability to believe in our own personal truths without being

swayed or influenced by the generally accepted truth and I believe that is the way it should be.

Humans are not perfect creatures and that is why everyone is different in some way or

another. This imperfection is what makes us perfect. If we could not form our own truths and we

just had a predefined truth, the world would not be as colorful and diverse as it is. The objective

truth about truth may be that truth is a definite thing that can not be contested. My personal truth

is that we have a choice to believe whatever we believe in to be the real truth.

Works Cited

Definition of Truth.Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster Inc.

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Solipsism. Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com.

What Does Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder Mean? Writing Explained, Writing Explained.