Truth HQ by Tom Wallace - HTML preview

T R U T H H Q

concept of existence first. When we speak of something we normally do not add that the something also happens to exist. For instance, we do not say, ‘there is a white horse and the horse also exists’. Rather than making us more sure about something’s existence, this would tend to make us wonder why there’s a need for the reassurance of the thing’s existence. In

similar vein, there is something in philosophy known as the deflationary theory of truth. ‘Ducks quack’ is the example often given. This might appear trivial, but it’s trying to tell us something. As with existence, there is no need to say – in the duck example – that the fact of ducks quacking is also true. And again, to do so would be to cast doubt on truth rather than add any assurance. The deflationary theory is telling us that there’s no PERFECT WORLD OF TRUTH – no TRUTH HQ – where all facts reside. So this is yet another example of what Kung-Sun was trying to tell us. We sort of know that there’s no Truth HQ, but then we sort of still hope that there is.

If only, somehow, Kung-Sun’s message had reached us. We’d have been saved from a lot of bother that splitting up the world has caused us. But – you may be thinking, dear reader – surely things have moved on? Surely science takes a much more matter-of-fact view of reality nowadays? Surely there’s no more talk of these worlds of perfect forms?

Well, I’d have to say, NOT SO!

Because, although we might profess to some kind of scrupulously empirical way of understanding the world and some kind of pragmatic way of applying our knowledge, nonetheless there is still that hankering after perfect worlds. That’s what the search for a

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