Is Truth Historical?
In: Thesis eleven: critical theory and historical sociology, Heft 29, S. 14-32
ISSN: 0725-5136
Different philosophical & theological perspectives on the nature of truth are examined to assess whether or not truth is historical. Among the several perspectives discussed are: the New Testament's notion of truth; Soren Kierkegaard's dictum that truth is subjective; Martin Heidegger's understanding of truth, which extols art as the highest form of truth because of its noncorrespondence with reality; & Michel Foucault's idea of truth as inextricably bound with power relations. Several real world examples are given to show how different kinds of truth are used to inform actions in everyday life. It is concluded that truth is indeed historical, but it is also a regulative idea that is anchored in whatever an individual wishes to consider true; in this respect, truth is idiosyncratic & subjective. W. Howard