My Truth

I recently signed up for an online English and Composition class. One of the requirements for the grade was a discussion on Plato's transcript of a Socratic dialogue with Meno about the origins of virtue. On the discussion board, I am one of the few to argue, as Socrates did, that virtue couldn't be taught and is inherent in each human being.

I have gotten plenty of responses. After developing a fairly lengthy conversation with another student, she concludes: "I accept your opinion and appreciate your effort for trying to persuade me to your truth." She was very nice, but essentially asked me to agree to disagree.

This got me thinking a little bit … my truth. Can truth be multifaceted? Do multiple forms of it exist?

If we want it to remain truth … no.

Truth is defined as "conformity with fact or reality." I have never found a fact that worked "both ways." While one person's interpretation of a fact may certainly differ from another, the fact in question cannot change – or else it ceases to be a fact.

So if I hold that human nature is flawed, for example, and you do not … how can we resolve to disagree? These statements are directly contrary to one another. For one to be true, the other must be false. George Orwell identified it as a part of "doublethink," holding two adverse truths in the mind simultaneously and conveniently erecting a barrier between them.

In a discussion for truth, all roads don't lead to Rome. To simply differ is to halt all discussion and remain content and unchallenged. Unfortunately, this is what our culture applauds: not the discussion to find truth, but the allowance of all contrary "truths." If truth is not an absolute … if there is no right answer … what is the point of searching?

Maybe it's the debater in me, but I want resolution. I want more than to go our separate ways. Convince me! Show me why I'm wrong. Give me a reason why you value your idea of truth (for that's all it is, an idea) over mine. "Just because" is not a valid answer.

In conclusion, the differences between my idea of truth and someone else's may be substantial. That is something worth discussing. Therefore, let's discuss it! Simply parting our separate ways doesn't help me understand … nor come closer to understanding reality.