[MD] Truth and the Linguistic Turn

[Platt Holden]

> > [Krimel]
> > Exactly, this odd notion of a fixed, absolute, perfect point of view is
> > the dream the drives folks like Ham. You seem to be in accord that
> > philosophers are on board rationally with what the sciences have
> > demonstrated empirically. There is no fixed absolute reference point.
> > There is no Absolute Truth beyond the conception of Absolute Truth. We can
> 
> > imagine such a thing. We can give it a "tip of the hat or a wag of the
> > finger" But we have no way of being certain that what we tip and wag at,
> > is what we think it is. 
> 
> [Platt]
> I presume you invoke an Absolute Truth in asserting "There is no Absolute
> Truth." Of course, if true the statement is self-contradictory. If not, it
> is a relative truth which may or may not be true, depending on your point of
> view
> 
> (or your culture if you are a postmodernist). Either way, the statement is
> doubtful.
> 
> [Krimel]
> No you are completely missing the point. Whether or not there is an Absolute
> Truth is irrelevant. I am willing to grant the conceptual possibility as is
> Matt, I believe. The point is justifying belief in an Absolute Truth. How
> could you achieve Absolute Certainty that you have a correct belief in such
> a Truth and that your belief is correct. I am saying that you could not be
> Absolutely Certain that your belief is Absolutely Justified even if Truth
> were Absolute. I am maintaining that both Truth and Justification are merely
> adjectives that describe beliefs.

And I am saying that whenever you assert a truth such as "both Truth and 
Justification are merely adjectives that describe beliefs" you assert an 
absolute Truth. If not, it's a relative truth which I can take or leave as 
I wish. In this case, I leave it.   

> If you would get a handle on this you might stop embarrassing yourself with
> this inane paradox talk you keep bringing up.

Always when you lose an argument comes the personal insult. I'm just 
surprised it hasn't come long before this.