How Do We Know Absolute Truth? (experience)

Sunstone · #1 02-23-2007, 03:19 PM

How do we know absolute truth? I understand how we know conditional truth -- the various scientific methods. But exactly how do we know absolute truth?

Nanda · #2 02-23-2007, 03:23 PM

I don't believe there is such a thing. At least, I've never seen evidence of any absolute truth.

Engyo · #3 02-23-2007, 03:25 PM

I think I have to agree with Nanda - unless we possibly consider math. I can't really figure out any way that 2+2 can equal something other than 4, but I certainly don't know everything.

Sunstone · #4 02-23-2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanda

I don't believe there is such a thing. At least, I've never seen evidence of any absolute truth.

Neither have I. People say this or that truth is absolute, but then they either have no way of establishing that it is absolute, or their method for establishing that it is absolute relies on conditional observations. The exception to that is mathematics.

Nanda · #5 02-23-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunstone

People say this or that truth is absolute, but then they either have no way of establishing that it is absolute, or their method for establishing that it is absolute relies on conditional observations.

That has been my experience as well.

Random · #6 02-23-2007, 03:32 PM

*Sigh* Okay, is it not Absolutely True that there is something rather than nothing, existentially?

Sunstone · #7 02-23-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random

*Sigh* Okay, is it not Absolutely True that there is something rather than nothing, existentially?

Doesn't that depend on observationn? And if it depends on observation, then truth of it is dependent or conditional. How can a conditional truth be said to be an absolute truth?

UnTheist · #8 02-23-2007, 03:43 PM

Absolute truth is only known to the individual.

Random · #9 02-23-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Doesn't that depend on observationn? And if it depends on observation, then truth of it is dependent or conditional. How can a conditional truth be said to be an absolute truth?

Rules are dependent upon observation, made or broken by it. Absolute is not the Rule here in this realm, Phil: in case you hadn't noticed.

One cannot confuse subjective criteria such as awareness of a thing with its continuity: you go to sleep @ night and are unaware of the "real" world in your dream-state, but the world doesn't cease to be in the interim, does it?