Hierarchy of Truth: Objective Truth and Moral Relativism

          Comparing and contrasting Truths can be a difficult process as Truths relate to and build upon each other. Philosophy teaches us that Truth is only Truth if it is consistent with itself. All things that are claimed to be True are only such if they bolster or are bolstered by other Truths. A subjective Truth or a Truth based on individual perception and judgment is essential for an individual given that person’s context or their given state. That is, as one determines Truth based on given material observations, the fact that one is seeking Truth suggests a progression of Truth. Essentially, if one claims a subjective Truth based upon given observable data, they are also claiming that a previous Truth to them was insufficient or incomplete. This also suggests a progression of Truth as one becomes more aware of data or information. Theoretically, then, if one is aware of all available data or information, they can claim a Truth that is Truer or the Truest. This Hierarchy of Truth further suggests that if one were to consider all knowledge, both material and theist, both temporal and eternal, both inside and outside the dimensions of time and space, then one would have access to Truth that is on the highest echelon of the Hierarchy of Truth. Philosophy, then, concludes that Subjective Truth is valuable most appropriately in how it positively relates to Objective Truth.

            Teaching this can be tricky. Relativism, essentially claims that there is no Objective Truth because Objective Truth cannot be directly observed. I teach this a few different ways. The first is to simply tell the students to assume objective Truth to exist, regardless of direct observation. To be honest, this is the best way to get students to buy into the concept of objective Truth and the concept of Objective Truth being superior to any other kinds of Truth. As they assume the concept and as I continue to teach the philosophy, my students inductively learn the necessity of Objective Truth. Really, relativism seems childish after just a reflections on this concept. If students refuse to assume this to be True, even if it is just a logical exercise, I use the Pit Analogy. All subjective Truths are Truths based on observable data inside the Pit. As we increase in our ability to see the Pit around us, we also increase in our understanding of the Truth of the Pit. As that knowledge increases, so does our openness to greater Truths. I use this image to make the argument “What if we made our way outside the Pit? Wouldn’t we then have better knowledge of the Truth of the Pit? Isn’t that knowledge or Truth superior to what we had before or what people in the Pit are limited to now?” This lesson can start to click, although I have to remind myself that my students and our culture is so embroiled and invested in fixation on material, relative, and subjective Truth that just because they can define these terms does not mean then believe this philosophy. I have to repeat this to myself a million times a day before it can become a default ideology; if my students want to believe anything I am teaching, they will have to remind themselves a million times a day also.

(Enjoying the sun and the garden.)