Philo 1 (Philosophical Analysis)

Chapter 2: Knowledge

Output#8b

Analyze the meaning of the word “true” or “truth” in each of the following:

a. She is a true friend.

b. He is true to his wife.
c. This character (in a novel) is true to the way people of that kind behave in actual life.
d. The equator is not a true physical place.
e. The true way of solving this problem is …
f. This line is not a true plumb.
g. The true meaning of “democracy” is …
h. It’s the truth that hurts.
i. This is certainly a true portrait of her.
j. You can’t draw a true circle.

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We often find ourselves using words we do not even fully understand. For instance, the
words “true” and “truth.” These words seem pretty much basic but can we really define them?
Perhaps we can state several meanings for which but can we truly arrive on a consensus for
defining them? Maybe, maybe not. If this was so, how are we able to use these words even if
we do not have clear definitions for them? Perhaps it is with our tendency to reduce things that
we make something complex simpler. Just like these highly abstract words, we instinctively
connect them to simpler, definite and related notions in order to make sense of their vagueness
and ambiguity.

 She is a true friend. – In this sentence, “true” only gives a certain emphasis - that
is, how she is as a friend. However, the condition of being a “true friend” could
mean a variety of things (e.g. being a good friend, a loyal friend, etc.). The
sentence therefore becomes ambiguous by word choice.
 He is true to his wife. – Just like the first sentence, the use of the word “true” is
ambiguous. It can mean that he is faithful to his wife, honest with his wife, etc.
Unless explicitly stated, we can never know what the word is associated with.
 This character (in a novel) is true to the way people of that kind behave in actual
life. – In this sentence, the word “true” implied correctness. In other words, the
character in the novel correctly portrayed the behavior of the people (he is
portraying) in actual life.
 The equator is not a true physical place. – In this sentence, “true” corresponds to
being “real” – that is a product of the persona’s perception. He believes that the
equator is not a real physical place – a place one cannot ever perceive or
experience to be at.
 The true way of solving this problem is … - In this sentence, “true” is ambiguous.
Just like the first sentence, it only adds emphasis but it does not disclose any
specific addition to the meaning of the statement. The sentence could mean
several things: that a particular procedure could be the “only one” solution to a
Philo 1 (Philosophical Analysis)
Chapter 2: Knowledge

problem, that a particular solution is the how the problem is solved “by tradition,”
etc. Unless explicitly stated, we can never know what the word is associated
with.
 This line is not a true plumb. - The word “true” was used as a qualifier which
determined whether an object is the same or not with a certain object of
comparison. In this case the line was compared to a plumb but was then
disproved. This only meant that the line is not perfectly vertical like a “true”
plumb. The line may have been initially thought to be perfectly vertical but
considerable observation revealed that it is not.
 The true meaning of “democracy” is … - In this sentence, the word “true” meant
the “only one” or “universally accepted.” The sentence talks about the only one or
universally accepted definition of democracy. This implies that the definition
being referred to: is infallible, is not subject for further disputes and is accepted
by all.
 It’s the truth that hurts. – In this sentence, the word “truth” meant anything being
in accord with fact or reality – that is, something that have actually existed or
happened. The statement means that it is the “reality” of things that would hurt
the most.
 This is certainly a true portrait of her. - Just like the sixth example, the word “true”
meant the similar resemblance of the object to an object of comparison. In this
case, since the portrait looked exactly the same as the subject of the artwork, the
persona attributed the portrait to be a “true” portrait of hers.
 You can’t draw a true circle. – In this sentence, the word “true” meant “perfect.”
Since there is only one representation of a circle – that is, a figure formed by
connecting points equidistant to a given point, drawing a circle requires the
drawn image to be exactly the same with the accepted notion for it. For
something to be exactly the same as the other, an object must copy the object of
comparison at every detail without mistake – that is, perfect per se.

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