Well, that is partly my point. Whenever we discuss the nature of truth we always seem to ask a lot of questions and to answer precious few. I am, as you have probably worked out by the web-page, a Discordian, and I am also a relativist (not all of the former are also the latter, though it helps - in my opinion). Our most basic assumptions are precisely that - assumptions, and they may be wrong. A truth is something that is true, and as we have no way of knowing which of our assumptions are true, the truth is intangible. Everything is relative to a partucular set of assumptions, or a Belief System, if you will.
Feel free to zoom in on a possible weakness here. Is `Everything is relative' itself relative, or is it absolute?
Of course it is relative! Everything might not be relative; there may well be an absolute, solid, truthful reality with which some or all of us are in direct contact. I don't know. And nor does anyone else. We pick a Belief System we are happy with, that's all.
Why was I so weak to ask and answer such Aristotelean questions? I really don't want to fall into the trap of thinking that we can map out the world using conventional reason (i.e. Greek thought which has taken over this part of the world and there is plenty of it about anyway) and language (ditto). Neither gives truth, they are just two of many means of exploration.
I am not offering propositions for criticism, I am shaping some thoughts into a frisbee and skimming them gently towards you. Your response is up to you. Wisdom comes in many forms, whether from surfing the Net, reading Chinese poetry, talking to a mad person at a bus stop, or dancing a Scottish jig wearing nothing but a sporran with half a pint of whisky inside you.
As a Discordian I try not to be dogmatic, I try to keep an open mind and I have a damn good time and swallow all sorts of things that aren't on your average respectable menu. That doesn't mean that I believe them, rather that I like to see how things taste, whether it's LSD or Islam or conventional science or a joke. Here at the Tropist Monks of Byzantium (also known as the Tropical Monks of Basingstoke according to the Cystitis Scriptures) we are all, I believe, explorers of one kind or another, though as our cabal contains one of the most soporific cats in the world it is hard to be sure. We also tend to drink a lot and do things with faintly illegal stuff, but again that isn't universal.
That's it really. Think. Reason. Then stop reasoning and try something else. Explore. Laugh. And if you think that we are up our own arses, and you mean it as an insult, then I can only pity you; for it is an obvious truth that it is loads of fun to be up an arse. You just weren't rhythmic enough.
Please respond, in any form whatsoever on any subject whatsoever. Besos.
Jehanine
To read a rambling commentary on this by the Polyfather, click your heels together five times and say 'Kippers for breakfast? Is it St. Swithin's Day already, Aunt Helga?'