From: David G. McDivitt (dmcdivitt@yahoo.com)
Date: Sun Aug 26 2001 - 09:58:33 MDT
There simply is too much randomness and arbitrariness to say truth is
truth simply because truth is truth. What we call truth is what works
for us, or, worked for past cultures which we have had no need or desire
to challenge as yet. Facts work because people share in their
significance only, not because they are facts, and people have joint
desire to have them work, similar to belief in a dollar bill. Remove
whatever faith in facts, and you remove truth supported by those facts.
Knowledge is therefore faith based and choice based only.
I endorse use of facts. I like facts. It would be stupid of me never to
question their construct, however. So, when is a fact a fact?
>From: "Russell Blackford" <RussellBlackford@bigpond.com>
>Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2001 10:33:43 +1000
>
>Sorry, the answer is "yes". Facts are often supported by other facts.
>
>Anyway, there are plenty of factual propositions that are simply true, and
>pretty much certain. For example, as I write this I am sitting at my
>computer, here in Melbourne, Australia. Short of some kind of Cartesian
>metaphysical doubt (deceiving demons, etc; the logical possibility that I am
>a brain in a vat in Russia), I pretty much know this for sure.
>
>Cheers
>
>Russell
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