Taxonomy of truth
There are two kinds of truth, truth that is defined and truth that is determined.
Defined truth:
An example of a defined truth is “there are twelve inches in a foot”. Axioms are another example of a defined truth.
Determined truth:
For truth that is determined, there are two ways that truth is determined. Truth is determined either by measurement or by logical inference.
- Truth determined by measurement:
For truth to be measured, it must be observable in a non-intrusive way. When the truth is a measured truth, a level of certainty will also be determined. For example, a quarter is nominally an inch in diameter. That measurement will accompanied by the specifics of how it was determined, i.e., by measuring across the tops or the valleys of the reeded edge of the quarter, and by a tolerance, e.g., a quarter is an inch in diameter, plus or minus some number of thousandths of inches. The quarter is designed to be an 0.955 inches in diameter, and from the specification it is clear that the tolerance is intended to be measured in the thousandths of inches.
Context determines when the statement “the quarter is an inch in diameter” is true.
- Truth determined by logical inference:
Logical inference is used to determine things that can not be measured or observed in a non-intrusive way.
Derived truth:
There are things which I have determined to be true.
- Truth is relative to time, people and place.
Some people say “It is all relative.” This is not entirely correct. Because defined truths can be subjective, the determined truths they support are also subjective; truth can vary with people. The axioms on which a determined truth can change over time; truth can vary with time. The perspective of a determined truth will be different with place; truth can change with place.
to be continued