The gospel according to Joan Konner:
“The reason there are so many opinions is that no one knows the Truth.”
Is this one of those “truths” that you have to have an opinion on?
By this I must point out that this is somewhat of a self-refuting or self-defeating statement. Since no one knows the truth, then how can a true statement be made on anything. Either this statement is true which means that we really can’t know if it is indeed true, or this statement is false which means that its irrelevant.
If true, then it refutes and defeats itself.
If not true, then it doesn’t matter.
If no one knows the truth, then by what reason or reasons can a statement of this nature be made? Do you follow? Is this not a reasonable and rational response to the claim being made? How can a thought that claims that truth can not be known be considered a truth?
This statement is quite dogmatic in its expression of relativism.
Interestingly enough, the very fact that there are so many opinions would prove this statement inaccurate. Please allow me to explain. People have opinions and share such opinions on account of thinking them to be true. They consider their opinion to be a valid and better reflection of whatever they happen to be thinking about. They believe their opinion to be more accurate than another opinion that stands in opposition.
This quote is thought to be true by the one who pressed the letters that communicated the opinion regarding Truth.
It is thought to be true.
It isn’t.
With all that said, I must say that this thought does reveal at least the following notions:
If Truth were accessible, then it would be challenging to understand and even more so to communicate. If Reason were able to distinguish between truth and fiction, logic and illogic, accurate and inaccurate reflections of reality, then it would also be a challenge. But a challenge well worth the effort as some sense of reality comes into view.
If these ideas are not true, then what isn’t self-refuting and self-defeating?
