PHILOSOPHY
Is Truth a Human Invention? CLARA BARDWELL
proposed his infamous ‘first principle’: ‘Cogito ergo sum’, (‘I think, therefore I am’) stating that our own conscious existence is the only truth we can be entirely sure of. 385 years later this is still one of the most debated and controversial topics in philosophy. Truth is an extremely complicated phenomenon, and unlike the word invention, it does not have one, singular and universally accepted definition, but its meaning and value varies from person to person; moulded and shaped through both our individual beliefs our societal conventions and stereotypes – encapsulating a range of contrasting elements relative to their personal beliefs, traditions, cultures, and experiences. As a result, an individualistic presentation of ‘truth’ is created.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, an invention is defined as ‘something that has never been made before.’ Throughout history there have been many incredible inventions that have changed the way we live, from the invention of chocolate around four thousand years ago, to the first ever telephone in 1876, or the aeroplane in 1903! Inventions are constantly occurring, revolutionising our lives in ways previously thought impossible, such as the recent developments and advancements in technology and artificial intelligence... but what about truth? Can truth really be viewed as a human invention? Truth is a central element of philosophy, first questioned by philosopher René Descartes in his Discourse on Method in 1637, where he
“Is there any knowledge in the world which is so certain that no reasonable man could doubt it?” BERTRAND RUSSELL
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