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What is Truth? |
Over 60 pages of insight into the Nature of Truth
Welcome . . .
If you are looking for the definition of the word Truth, you have come to the right place. This page has essential information to guide you into the rest of the website. To skip the introduction and to see the definition of Truth, go to The Nature of Truth. |
Table of Contents Part 1 - Motivation Part 2- Introduction Part 3 - Summary of this Website Part 4 - Directory of this Website Part 5 - Documents for Download Part 6 - Acknowledgments Part 7 - Disclaimers Part 8 - Abbreviations Part 9 - Website Map Topical Index - Approximate number of words Alphabetical Index Part 10 - Book for Sale |
Part 1 - MOTIVATION |
During the most famous trial in history, a very
important question was left unanswered. The question had been asked before by
many thoughtful men, and has been asked many more times since, but the answer
has not been forthcoming.
Innumerable attempts have been made to try and answer the question “What is Truth?” Only one man has been able to give a satisfactory analysis of the word Truth. This website is based on the work of this man. Aurelius Augustine was born in 354 AD and died 76 years later. The influence of his ideas still pervades all of civilization. Between the years 391 and 395 he wrote a small document with the title: On Free Choice of the Will; [abbreviated in Latin to De Libero]. The document consists of three parts called ‘books’, each ‘book’ being about the length of a chapter in a modern book. Almost hidden in the pages of ‘book’ two, is his exposition of the word Truth. |
Part 2 - INTRODUCTION |
This website is based on an over
two decades-long, on-going study of the Nature of Truth in
thousands of references in Theology, Philosophy, Literature,
History, Mathematics, Science and Logic. To see the extent
of this study, please download the
Extensive Bibliography
below.
Much needed because the concept of Truth is inescapable. Satisfactory because the definition fulfills the necessary and sufficient conditions for the concept of Truth. Unique and unprecedented because I believe it is unlike any other definition of Truth. Those who are new to the subject might be surprised to discover that a valid definition for the word Truth has not yet been agreed upon by Theologians, Philosophers, Logicians and Mathematicians. With the advantage of hindsight, and a long history of Theology, Philosophy, Mathematics and Logic behind us, only recently have we been in a position to understand Augustine’s exposition of Truth correctly. The ancients were unable to interpret this work correctly, because they did not experience the many dead-ends that the history of ideas traversed. |
Part 3 - SUMMARY OF THIS WEBSITE |
1- The Triumvirate of human
wisdom has been found wanting: a- There is no truth in Mathematics b- There is no truth in Science c- There is no truth in Logic 2- Philosophers, mathematicians and logicians have been unable to define the word Truth. The most plausible theories of truth are listed, followed by their devastating critiques. 3- The analysis of the word Truth as given by St. Augustine has been resurrected and interpreted in light of the above facts. |
Part 4 - DIRECTORY OF THIS WEBSITE |
All of the pages on this website are arranged Topically in Drop-down menus. |
The many facets of the
Nature of Truth are given over several pages and all
relevant pages should be read for a more complete picture. The Nature of Truth topic contains the definition of the word Truth, its grammatical analysis and its interpretation. The Background to the Nature of Truth topic has several pages of vital information on the present state of the many Theories of Truth and answers to commonly asked questions. The Nature of Science topic gives statements by prominent scientists who have admitted that there is no truth in science. The Nature of Numbers topic presents extensive information on the nature of numbers, their nature, their uses and their impotence to describe reality. The Nature of Logic topic also contains quotes by eminent logicians that show the purpose and necessity of logic, the uses of the variety of logics, and the impotence of logic to arrive at any truth whatsoever. The Nature of Knowledge page establishes a solid epistemological foundation for all human knowledge. Once the Nature of Truth is established, it becomes necessary to understand The Nature of Names and Titles. The Live Presentations pages are easier to understand expositions of the nature of truth and related subjects. |
Part 5 - DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD |
The following PDF files are available for download at this website.
PAGE NAME | DOCUMENT |
---|---|
The Nature of Truth |
The Truth-relevant passages of Augustine’s De Libero, Book II, in English |
Brief Bibliography |
Extensive Bibliography |
Critique of Numerics | |
No Truth in Logic | |
Other Documents |
Allegory of the Cave-Plato |
Part 6 - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
I wish to thank members of my family who have been
the involuntary audiences of my lectures and Christmas Eve
presentations during our family get-togethers over the past decades.
Their probing questions and fearless criticisms of my ideas have
helped to sharpen my mind and crystallize my thoughts. Furthermore, this work would not have seen the light of day without my wife’s encouragement, support and her endurance of many lonely evenings. In addition I want to thank the following institutions for access to their libraries. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Andover-Newton Theological Seminary Boston University Boston College Boston Public Library for providing access to JSTOR Waltham Public Library for inter-library loans. They are not associated with the 1TP Theory or this website. |
Part 7 - DISCLAIMERS |
[…] when I cite any author […] I cite him for the words
quoted and no others. I do not mean to imply that he is in agreement with my
essential position. I mean to imply no more than that the words quoted have
interest and value in connection with the topic under discussion.
Leon Morris (1914-2006), Studies in the Fourth Gospel. |
Part 8 - ABBREVIATIONS |
1TP = One True Proposition- the new theory of Truth based upon a
new definition of truth, that there is only One True Proposition available to mankind at the present time. noTru = nature of Truth noKno = nature of Knowledge noNum = nature of Numbers noSci = nature of Science noLog = nature of Logic nTnF= neither True nor False nNT = nature of Names and Titles De Libero = Abbreviation of Latin title of St. Augustine’s important work De Libero Arbitrio Voluntatis; in English:- On The Free Choice of the Will |
Part 9 - WEBSITE MAP |
TOPIC 1- The Nature of Truth
Ch1 • What is Truth? |
TOPIC 2- The Nature of Science
Ch1 • There is No Truth in Science
| TOPIC 3- The Nature of Numbers
Ch1• There is No Truth in Numbers
| TOPIC 4- The Nature of Knowledge
Ch1 •
The Nature of Knowledge
|
TOPIC 5- Background to The Nature of Truth
Ch1 •
Truth Undefined & Indefinable
| TOPIC 6- The Nature of Logic
Ch1 •
There is No Truth in Logic
| TOPIC 7- The Nature of Names
Ch1 • The Nature of Names and Titles
| TOPIC 8- Live Presentations
Ch1 •
Truth and Freedom
|
TOPIC 9
|
TOPIC 10 - Miscellaneous Topics
Ch1 •
The Image of God in Man
|
TOPIC 11- About the Author
Ch1 • About The Author
|
TOPIC 12 |
Part 10 - BOOK FOR SALE |
. . . Pilate said to him “What is truth?” . . . John 18:38