Philosophy and the Truth

Those who have studied philosophy have developed the view that the ultimate truth is not within mankind’s reach. You may know that philosophy has been defined as “the science that endeavors to explain the origin of existence and life.” In actual fact, though, it rarely goes that far. In Filosofins Historia (The History of Philosophy), Swedish author Alf Ahlberg wrote: “Many philosophical questions are of such a nature that it is not possible to give a definite answer to them. . . . Many people are of the opinion that all the metaphysical problems [relating to first principles of things] belong to this . . . group.”

Consequently, those who through philosophy have endeavored to find an answer to the vital questions of life have often ended up dissatisfied or in anguish. In his book Tankelinjer och trosformer (Lines of Thought and Religious Faith), Swedish author Gunnar Aspelin said: “One thing we see is that nature is no more interested in man than in the butterfly and the mosquito . . . We are powerless, absolutely powerless, in the face of those forces that play their game in the cosmos and in our inner world. This is the outlook on life that has so often appeared in literature toward the end of a century in which men have put their faith in progress and dreamed of a better future.”

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SOME PHILOSOPHIES VERSUS THE TRUTH

POSITIVISM: The view that all ideas of a religious nature are unverifiable nonsense and that the object of philosophy is to unite the positive sciences to form a whole.

EXISTENTIALISM: Its advocates were very much influenced by the horrors of World War II and therefore came to have a pessimistic view of life. It stresses examining man’s anguish in the face of death and the emptiness of life. Existentialist author Jean-Paul Sartre said that since there is no God, man is abandoned and exists in a universe that is absolutely indifferent.

SKEPTICISM: Holds that it is impossible through observation and reason to reach any objective, universal knowledge​—any truth—​about existence.

PRAGMATISM: Estimates the true worth of our convictions solely by their practical bearing on human interests, such as in reshaping education, morals, and politics. It does not consider that truth has any value in itself.

Even many who profess faith in the Bible believe that absolute truth is not attainable. U.S. clergyman John S. Spong commented: “We must . . . move from thinking we have the truth and others must come to our point of view to the realization that ultimate truth is beyond the grasp of all of us.” A Roman Catholic author, Christopher Derrick, gives one reason for such negative views concerning finding truth: “Any mention of religious ‘truth’ implies some kind of claim to know . . . You imply that somebody else may possibly be wrong; and that would not do at all.”