Fact and Truth
The truth of a subject matter is whatever that was, is, and will be. The fact of a subject matter depends on the person’s perception. As a result there is only one truth of the subject matter but many facts. To find the truth of a subject matter, we have to gather as many facts on the subject matter as possible. We rely on objective observation, exhaustive investigation, and logical induction and deduction. It is like a blind person trying to find out what an elephant looks like by touching. The more places that the blind person can touch the elephant the more clear a mental image can be formed. The truth of a subject matter is usually shrouded in facts that are contradictory, misleading, and confusing. Since the dawn of our civilization, we have never stopped seeking the truth about the celestial objects in the sky, animated and in-animated objects on Earth, to every aspect of our life. Our long term survival depends on understanding the truth.
Philosophy
The philosophers try to seek the truth of a subject matter (happiness, parenthood, society, etc.) by using meaningful discussions, insightful arguments, deep thoughts, and the implementation of the fruit ideas.
The philosophers start with simple facts and in their quest for the truth, they lay the foundation for a society where people from all walks of life can find food and shelter, seek work and raise a family, etc. all under the guidance of education, protection of laws, rules and regulations, and the enforcement of the governing bodies. For example:
Marxism and Capitalism are two most important ideas about how individual people’s labor can truly be utilized to produce goods that will benefit all the people. One idea stresses the importance that each person contributes according to one’s capabilities with the same compensation so that person of lesser gifted can enjoy the same gift of life. The other idea argues that each person shall be rewarded according to one’s capabilities thus, creating a vibrant and diversified but discriminating and segregating environment. With minor modifications on both ideas, they have become an economical force that keeps our civilization moving forward in a steady pace.
Religion
Religion was created to preach the can-not-be-disputed truth about how we shall live our life, how we shall treat one another, and how everyone shall be judged when the end time comes. Today, there are only 3 time-proven religions that command the faithful attention of most of the people on Earth. There is Christianity in Europe, Islam in the Middle East, and Buddhism in Asia. Each religion teaches a slightly different version of the truth to better serve the people in the region with its unique ways of life. Time and history have shown that religion was responsible for keeping the community together in times of war and peace, the family together in times of misfortune and prosperity, and the person’s sanity together in times of emotional roller coaster. Time and history have also shown that each religion’s teachings have remained unchanged from the beginning to the present day. All the facts have shown that the can-not-be-disputed truth may turn out to be the undisputed truth.
Science
Scientists attempt to find the truth of a subject matter through the use of logic, reason, and systematic methods to collect, document, and analyze facts. Then, the scientists will formulate theory about the truth, device experiments and tools to verify the truth. The process is constantly being improved and expanded, and the disciplines can be easily learned by the average Joe. Today, we depend on science for our survival. Our educational system is built on the foundation of science. Science has helped us to learn more about ourselves as well as Nature. It has been proven trued that:
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Earth is not at the center of the Cosmo but is orbiting around the Sun together with other 8 planets. (It was a fact that Earth was flat and at the center Universe.)
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All living things on Earth are related: some by a lot, some only remotely through the DNA analysis and an evolutionary process. (It was a fact that we are unique and master of our destiny.)
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Using computers and satellites, the weather that is a function of the spinning Earth, the temperature of the ocean, and the sunlight can be forecasted a week in advance with high accuracy. (It was a fact that the weather was unpredictable.)
Point of View
The truth about a subject matter is usually hiding behind the facts. The facts are usually misinterpreted by people’s subjectivity, perception, and vantage point of view. For example:
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After a traffic accident, each witness will describe the sequence of the event slightly different. Only after analyzing all the possible information gathered, the truth as to what happened can be determined,
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After reading the same popular novel, each person will have a different emotional response and conclusion to its meaning,
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To find the truth behind a crisis situation, it is common practice to gather a group of people with the relevant expertise so that their unique insight and analyses can penetrate the obvious and get to the root cause of the problem.
Despite the obstacles and debacles presented by the fact, we have never given up our determination to unravel the truth about the wonder and blunder of life, the beauty and cruelty of Nature, how life and Nature sustain and contain each other, the creativity and destructivity of the human mind, and how the human heart and mind exert and assert for control.
