Truth Can Be Subjective Philosophy Essay Sample

Truth Can Be Subjective Philosophy Essay Sample The concept of truth as the basic philosophical notion has been interpreted differently. There are many definitions of this concept focusing on different dimensions. Thus, for example, truth can be defined as the body of real events, things, and facts (Glanzberg, 2016). This word can also refer to a belief or fact accepted as true and unquestionable. However, one needs to point that existing definitions of this complex and elusive notion cannot accurately explain and reflect its nature. The most challenging issue is to understand what is truth, how it can be perceived by different people, and whether it can change depending on a context or a situation. The main aim of this essay is to explore these problems and determine whether truth is absolute or subjective. The concept of absolute truth suggests that truth is something permanent, eternal and applicable for all times and places. In other words, it is an unquestionable and unalterable fact that works in all contexts. For example, it is the absolute truth that squares cannot be round. Some philosophers, however, claim that there cannot be absolute truth because truth can be perceived differently depending on a situation and a person observing it (Pardey, 2012). At the same time, one needs to admit that the concept of absolute truth is a tricky one because it is difficult to argue against it. To deny its existence means using absolute statements and accepting that other point of view is absolute truth. As seen, absolute truth is associated with irreconcilable contradictions. Subjectivism, also referred to as relativism, teaches that there cannot be absolute truth because truth can only reflect what the speaker thinks about a particular issue (BBC, 2014). This philosophical framework postulates that truth can differ depending on the methods of assessment, a person, social context, culture, time, and many other factors (Baghramian Carter, 2016). For example, while the slim figure is perceived as beautiful in the contemporary society, in the Medieval times, full figures were considered an ideal. However, subjectivism is also widely criticized for failing to reflect the reality. More specifically, it is believed that this perspective is self-deafening and contradictory. For example, those supporting subjectivism believe that subjective truth is the universal truth. However, the problem is that a relative truth becomes an absolute one, thus negating itself. Moreover, subjectivism suggests that there may be different views on some issues. For example, a believer thinks that God exists whereas atheist denies his existence; thus, both individuals are right. Similarly, one person may believe that having children is wonderful while another person argues that it is too challenging and wearisome. The concept of parenthood in this situation is relative. For one individual, it indeed can be simple and fulfilling to raise children while for another individual, it is too scary and demanding. Subjectivism vividly highlights that truth is elusive and people’s perceptions of it may differ significantly. As far as I am concerned, the concept of truth cannot be put within rigid boundaries. On the one hand, I believe that there are some objective facts that possess the absolute quality. For example, people cannot fly, Earth is round, giraffes cannot speak English, etc. On the other hand, I admit that some things are interpreted differently by people and can change their nature depending on the context. Thus, for instance, postmodern literature is interesting for some people while others perceive it as boring and difficult to read. To summarize, while accepting that there is subjective truth that depends on people’s perceptions, I believe that there are also some absolute, objective facts that are true for everybody. In this way, the essay shows that the nature of truth as a philosophical concept is extremely complicated and varies depending on interpretation.