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ANNOTATION:
Absolute Truths DO exist
"What is truth? There are no absolute truths."
Sorry, but I'm quite certain that I'm aware, and that my awareness is an absolute truth.
I have read that some people doubt their own awareness: they believe that their awareness is merely an illusion.
I accept the [perhaps likely...] possibility that in those individual's cases, they are correct.
But speaking for myself, I am quite certain of the absolute truth of the statement: I am Aware.
Lion Kimbro
Author: John Mlynarski (johnmlynarski[ at ]hotmail.com)
Date: Apr 19, 2000REPLY: A Refutation of Descartes
Ah, I see you have siezed upon Decartes' famous "I think, therefore, I am." However, in what sense can your awareness be said to be an absolute truth? This argument takes for granted the assumption that, while one's awareness of other things may be inaccurate, that awareness itself surely exists. However, upon further inspection, there is no real basis for this assuption. It could just as well be that you are not aware and do not exist as that you are aware and do exist.
In conclusion, Descartes' argument is based on the assuption that those things that we directly experience, i.e., our own thoughts, perceptions, feelings, ect., necessarily exist. If we accept that this assumption is an arbitrary one, no matter how tempting it may be to simply accept the proposition that one is real, then the whole argument falls apart.
There is, however, a far more eloquent refutation of the denial of absolut truth in another posting. See "The Denial of Absolute Truth is Self-defeating."
Author: Mickey Katz (mkatz[ at ]newenglandconservatory.edu)
Date: May 24, 2000REPLY:
I agree that some truths do exist (absolute is a vague term.)
However,these truths are impossible to prove,which makes it impossible for us to know if we found them.
This does not mean there is no meaning in searching for truths.Even though we cannot prove a statemant to be true,we CAN prove it to be wrong.
This way,by refuting as many options as we can,we have a proximity to truth.
Author: Jordi Mustieles (visions[ at ]xednoid.com)
Date: Sep 9, 2000REPLY:
The old argument "I think, therefore I am" (of which "I'm aware, and this is an absolute truth" seems a variation) boils down to this: There is an "I", this "I" thinks, therefore there is an "I".
This tautology was forcefully challenged by Eastern thinkers several centuries ago, and their logically proved conclusion was that the "I" cannot be said to exist except as a conceptual construct devoid of inherent reality.
Author: Jordi Mustieles (visions[ at ]xednoid.com)
Date: Sep 9, 2000REPLY:
The old argument "I think, therefore I am" (of which "I'm aware, and this is an absolute truth" seems a variation) boils down to this: There is an "I", this "I" thinks, therefore there is an "I".
This tautology was forcefully challenged by Eastern thinkers several centuries ago, and their logically proved conclusion was that the "I" cannot be said to exist except as a conceptual construct devoid of inherent reality.
Author: DJ Arnold (djarnold[ at ]wfubmc.edu)
Date: Nov 17, 2000REPLY: wait a minute
If there were no absolutes, wouldn't that be one?
Author: Mike (Ghopper849[ at ]aol.com)
Date: Aug 14, 2002REPLY: Assuming is bad
Now we all know what happens when we assume. If someone can find me a universal truth that has no assumtions I will believe but until then stop assuming because it just causes arguements. But hey I still think philosophy is cool just not all the assumtions.
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