Absolute Truth

This domain is intended to encourage grade school age students to become scientists. It is based on a philosophy of science promoting humility among scientists with the acknowledgment that in the pursuit of absolute truth there is still much to be learned. Too often do we scientists tend to discourage young students from a career in science by the subtle inference that we already know everything.

The key to discovery is the early recognition of unknown. The greatest barrier to discovery is the attitude that we already know the answer.

Discovery is the finding of truth that was unknown before. Newly discovered does not mean new truth. Truth is eternal. Once discovered a newly discovered truth is no more true than it was eons ago. It is only new to the knowledge of man.

It is the position of this site that science is one of the fields of study engaged in the pursuit of absolute truth. The pursuit of truth is not limited to the field of science. It is acknowledged that in many fields the pursuit of truth is paramount. A court of law may be engaged in the pursuit of truth. The field of religion may contain pursuit of truth. The major differences in the fields of law, religion and science in the area of pursuit of truth is the set of rules on which truth is judged. However, the rules by which potential truth is accepted or rejected do not make something true or untrue. Truth in one field cannot be untrue in another. Care must be taken in all fields to differentiate between truth and opinion or best current judgment. Though opinion may legitimately differ, there cannot be a different absolute truth.

In the field of science, a new idea, concept, or opinion to be tested to see if it is true or false is called an hypothesis. A tested and accepted idea, concept, or opinion is called a theory. An irrefutable and repeatibly testable idea or concept is no longer opinion, but is accepted as truth.

In a court of law, there is a lesser rigid judging of truth. Depending on the seriousness of the crime, the set of rules varies in stringency. In the field of law there is an urgency for truth to be established, whether right or wrong. This is because a course of action must be decided upon and taken and is awaiting the determination of truth.. In this case, a best guess truth is established based on witness and evidence.

In the field of religion, the basis of establishing truth is authority of some kind. In most religions truth is established based on the writings or teachings of a supreme being which purport to contain that supreme beings witness of past events and superior intellect concerning current and future events.

It is acknowledged that the best opinion of truth as determined in a court of law is not always in concurrence with absolute truth. A common phrase in the field of law is “opinion of the court.”

It is acknowledged that pronouncements of truth based on interpretation and opinions derived from religious writings may contain deviation from absolute truth This is acknowledged to be due to the fact that these interpretation of religious writings are just that, interpretation and opinion by followers of the religion. There are many references to this in religious writing. An example is, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.” Proverbs 16:2 NASB

In the field of science, it is commonly held that truth is not pressured into acceptance in the same manner is in a court of law or in religion. This is a false impression. Just as in the fields of law and religion, in the field of science, there is also pressure to put up a front of knowing all truth. An observation is attributed to the famous physicist Max Planct, “Scientists don’t change their minds, they just die.”

It seems like the authorities in every field would lead us to believe that their latest accepted opinion is the truth.

The bottom line is that the opinion of science enjoys the more universal acceptance.

We are led to believe that the answers are all known. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We have a long way to go in the pursuit of truth. However, we cannot be paralyzed for lack of absolute truth. Life goes on with the best ( or most widely accepted) opinion governing the actions of the masses of people. Action can be, and commonly is taken based on a commonly accepted opinion of truth (theory). History is full of actions taken based on commonly accepted, yet wrong opinions of truth. The world is not flat. The sun does not revolve around the earth. Medical procedures have been abandoned after being proven harmful. Before these opinions of truth were abandoned, life went on just as though these wrong opinions were absolute truth.

There is a better way. It is up to us to discover more truth. There is a lot of undiscovered truth waiting for us to find it.

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