Truth seems like a basic concept we all understand, and yet for nearly 2,500 years—since the time of Socrates and Plato—Western philosophers have wrestled with the question: What is truth? Fascist, right-wing, authoritarian governance depends on the subordination of truth. And with fascism on the rise globally—including here in the United States—the fate of civilization may very well depend on our ability to distinguish truth from lies.
If that sounds hyperbolic, consider this: millions of Americans believe the 2020 election was stolen—that widespread voter fraud occurred, particularly in Democrat-run cities, and that Donald Trump was the rightful winner. They believe efforts to discredit this claim were simply gaslighting by an establishment desperate to remove Trump from power. That belief led directly to the January 6, 2021 insurrection that sacked our Capitol.
Trump has made a mockery of truth, even naming his social media platform “Truth Social,” where he regularly posts demonstrable falsehoods labeled as “truths.” Too few Americans believed—or cared—what was true, and as a result, Trump has been returned to power. So no, it is not hyperbolic to say that the fate of civilization depends on our relationship to truth.
At our June member gathering, we grappled with the concept of truth. SHL member Tucker Lentz delivered a two-part presentation. The first part introduced four major philosophical theories of truth—correspondence, coherence, pragmatic, and postmodern. The second part shifted from abstract philosophy to considering science and journalism as practical methodologies for discovering truth.
After the presentation, we enjoyed a pizza party and open forum to discussing these ideas and related topics.
📅 The event was held at 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 8th at Gage Hall, 4 Archdale St, Charleston.
