Whenever I speak about the need for pursuing truth or the harm caused by lies...

Whenever I speak about the need for pursuing truth or the harm caused by lies, I always get asked a variation of that same ancient question that Pontius Pilate asked Jesus.

”What IS truth?”

The pursuit of truth has been a cornerstone of Western philosophy. There is not time here to go into every theory on truth, but I will cover the approaches of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who offer distinct perspectives on what constitutes truth and how it can be understood.

Socrates: Truth as a Process of Inquiry

Socrates, often considered the father of Western philosophy, did not leave behind written works; his views on truth are primarily known through Plato’s dialogues. For Socrates, truth is not a fixed proposition but an outcome of rigorous questioning and dialogue. This method, known as the Socratic Method, involves asking a series of probing questions to expose contradictions in a person’s beliefs, leading to deeper clarity.

Key Idea: Truth is discovered through critical thinking and self-examination.

Contrast: Unlike later philosophers who may assert truths as objective realities, Socrates viewed truth as something to be actively pursued through engagement and reasoning.

Legacy: Socrates emphasized the importance of intellectual humility, suggesting that recognizing one’s ignorance is the first step toward truth.

Plato: Truth as Eternal Forms

Plato, a student of Socrates, advanced a more structured theory of truth through his doctrine of the Forms. For Plato, truth exists in a metaphysical realm of perfect, unchanging ideas or “Forms.” The material world, perceived through the senses, is merely a shadow or imperfect reflection of this higher reality.

Key Idea: Truth is absolute and resides in the realm of Forms, which are accessible only through reason and philosophical contemplation.

Contrast: Unlike Socrates, who focused on the process of discovering truth, Plato asserts that truth is pre-existing and immutable, independent of human opinion or perception.

Example: The Form of Beauty is the perfect essence of beauty, while objects in the physical world are merely imperfect copies of this ideal.

Legacy: Plato’s theory influenced the development of metaphysics and the idea that ultimate truths transcend sensory experience.

Aristotle: Truth as Correspondence to Reality

Aristotle, Plato’s student, diverged significantly from his teacher’s abstract metaphysics. Instead, Aristotle proposed a more grounded view of truth, defining it in terms of correspondence to reality. For Aristotle, truth is about accurately describing the world as it is; a statement is true if it aligns with observable facts.

Key Idea: Truth is empirical and based on evidence. It emerges from logical reasoning and the systematic study of nature.

Contrast: Unlike Plato, who prioritized the metaphysical realm, Aristotle rooted truth in the physical world and emphasized the importance of observation and categorization.

Example: The statement “water boils at 100°C at sea level” is true because it corresponds to observable phenomena.

Legacy: Aristotle’s approach laid the groundwork for scientific inquiry and the empirical methods used in modern research.

Comparison and Contrast

Socrates laid the foundation for seeking truth through questioning, Plato elevated the discussion to a metaphysical plane, and Aristotle brought it back to earth by tying truth to observable reality. Together, their theories represent a progression from abstract inquiry to systematic observation, offering complementary lenses through which we can explore the nature of truth.

Over time, Aristotle’s “see things as they are” views on truth lead to the scientific revolution, while politics and religion tend to be influenced by Plato’s “as they should be” theories. We will talk a bit more about that later.

My Personal Connection to Truth

Growing up, I was always fascinated by truth. My family’s Pater religion is the search for truth, as found in religion and the natural world (science). As a young boy, my family cultivated my interest in the pursuit of truth and seeing the world as it really is, not as it should be (or what I wished it to be).

Frequently I was told to speak the truth, regardless of the repercussions, even if it meant risking death. It was not good enough to simply forgo lying by being silent; I was expected to speak up and expose the lies I encountered in life, no matter their source. As a child, speaking the truth will put me at odds with teachers, parents, pastors, and peers. That is not a comfortable way to live, but it does build character and strength.

My work with the Natural Law Institute has exposed me to an even greater and more comprehensive understanding of truth than what was available to my ancestors. It’s far too much to explain here in a single message, but I will summarize the main points that stood out to me:

Yes, we can know enough truth at the human scale to make correct decisions.

Man is the measure of truth; our human senses are the only tools we have for discovering truth.

Words are a system of measurements and weights; they have specific meanings by which we can test claims for truth.

When you eliminate the impossible (via negativa), what remains is the truth.

How Do We Determine Truth?

We measure truth the same way we do in court or in a science experiment. We test it against reality to falsify it by performing a “truth test.” A claim has to pass every part of the truth test to be a truth candidate (possibly true).

Below is a slide from a course that I delivered on the subject of truth, which explains it in more detail. You can still take the course; get in contact with

or @bierlingm for details.

Why Did Pilate Ask, “What is Truth?”.

When Pontius Pilate asked Jesus that question, he was not looking for an explanation of the truth test or even for the truth itself. He was a cynical politician expressing a common skepticism that truth even existed.

Most people today can’t tell truth from lies, so they assume that no one can. The common belief that truth is beyond human understanding leads to a relativistic view of reality (“my truth”) and is encouraged by those in power because it acts as cover for liars and manipulators.

The results of people and whole societies following “my truth,” which is a euphemism for “a convenient lie I want to be true,” are tragic. Billions of people are disconnected from reality, unable to evaluate logical arguments, relying solely on their fickle emotions to guide them. Right now you are probably visualizing someone you know who is suffering because of lies they believe or even tell themselves.

Professional liars run the world. Almost every social, political, health, environmental, and economic problem we face today is the result of people falling for their crafty lies and manipulation.

The search for truth is not just a lofty philosophical struggle; it is a practical and essential part of living a healthy and joyful life. Being able to see the truth gives you a massive advantage over the blind masses. It will even save your life.

YES! The truth exists, it’s measurable, and you can know it.