INTRO TO THE WORLD OF PHILOSOPHY WHEREIN PEOPLE

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1. What is Truth? The question “what is truth?” does not have any simple answer. Just like philosophy, the word truth also has no generally accepted definition. However, the conventional way of defining truth is the quality or state of being in conformity with fact and reality.

2. Theories of Truth Since philosophers could not agree about the exact definition of the truth, theories of truth are helpful to evaluate truth from opinion. Here are some popular approaches to the truth:

3. Correspondence Theory of Truth - The theory is based on the belief that a proposition is true when it conforms to some fact or state of affairs ( Caraan 2016, 30). It emphasizes the notion that concepts are true when they correspond to reality or the world. Example : Snow is white.

4. Coherence Theory of Truth – This theory is the belief that a proposition is true to the extent that it agrees with other true concepts ( Caraan 2016, 30). This view supposes that ideas constitute an inter-related system; each element coheres with another justified beliefs.

5. Example: The sum of half of six and ten is thirteen. ½ (6) + 10 = 13 3+10 = 13 13 = 13

6. Pragmatic Theory of Truth - This theory is the belief that a proposition is true when acting upon it yields satisfactory practical results ( Caraan 2016, 31). It holds that an idea is true; it is useful to believe. Example: Earning a lot of money is of paramount importance to everyone.

7. What is an Opinion ? is a judgment, viewpoint, or statement that is considered to be subjective refer to thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and estimates with no evidence or reasoned judgment to support it.

8. For Dr. Rhonda Dubec (2019), an opinion is what a person believes or thinks about something or any subject. It is a view that represents the outlook of an individual, which may or may not be based on the fact.

9. is defined as the personal view or judgment about a subject that is not substantiated by the facts. In other words, an opinion cannot be proved true or false . It is what a person thinks or feels about something or someone. An opinion is highly influenced by a person’s feelings, thoughts, perspective, desires, attitude, experiences, understanding, beliefs, values, etc., which cannot be tested by concrete evidence.

10. Distinguishing Truth from Opinion It is very essential to distinguish truth from opinion because apart from the fact the latter has no objectives grounds, opinions could also mislead us. They have the potential to influence public view just to conform to a specific agenda. Their main goal is to achieve a desired outcome rather than to promote what is the truth.

11. Whether a statement is a fact or an opinion depends on its validity. The following are some differences between truth and opinion:

12. 1. Truth is a statement that can be verified or proved with the help of evidence or empirical data while opinion is an expression of judgment or belief on any particular subject.

13. 2. Truth heavily relies on facts , while opinion depends on assumption and perception.

14. 3. Generally, truth is an objective reality and has universality in its nature , while opinion is a purely subjective reality . It involves the expression of personal feelings or views .

15. 4. Truths are useful to make information or make an argument , while opinions are used for persuasion .

16. Discerning Truth from Opinion Leads to Wisdom and Truth Having the ability to discern truths and opinions can further improve our understanding and appreciation of differing views and ideas. Differentiating them requires a holistic perspective and enables us to choose acceptable ideas and make wiser decisions. This view can make a man understand the world and life better.

17. A philosophical or reflective mind allows us to form our personal viewpoint that can guide us in making wiser decisions when faced with life’s difficulties. Since everyone has every right to his point of view, we have to form ours too. Philosophy is a valuable tool to help us determine truthful and acceptable ideas essential in building better and wiser way of looking at life.

18. EVALUATING OPINION

19. Opinions play a particular role in our lives. They motivate us to investigate further in search of the truth. It is, however, harmful to accepts opinions as they are; without assessing and considering its truthfulness . Critical thinking must be employed in this undertaking.

20. 5 helpful tips to guide us better to evaluate an opinion.

21. 1. Source – The first thing to consider when evaluating and assessing an opinion is in knowing the origin of the material . Some sources are more credible than others. Knowing where the information came from will help us determine the accuracy, correctness, and soundness of information . When evaluating a source, one must consider the reputation, the audience where it was intended for, and the authenticity of documents .

22. 2. Reliability - Credibility is also required when checking the accuracy of the person giving the opinion. Consider the reputation and the expertise of the person about the topic.

23. 3. Purpose – Identify the main reason why the opinion is given. Evaluate if it is intended to inform or persuade. Consider reason and evidence in doing this step.

24. 4. Bias – Everyone has biases and preferences. It is important not to take the person’s sense of partiality and prejudices about the topic or subject matter.

25. 5. Assumption – Take notice of all the beliefs presented. Assumptions are ideas that one accepts as facts but makes no effort to prove or substantiate it.

26. Some of the fallacies maybe intentional. As the person making is desperate to convince you to accept his or her argument.

27. When looking at an opinion, be aware of bias or the personal views of the person presenting it. Biases are not necessarily errors in reasoning, but refer to tendencies or influences which affect the views of people.