Truth

From managing personal relationships to legitimizing governments, the concept of truth is a cornerstone in every aspect of our lives. We often speak of the need to know the truth, the search for the truth, and the pursuit of uncovering it. We label ourselves as truth seekers and others as truth deniers. Truth is powerful: “the truth will come out,” “the truth will set you free,” “speak truth to power.” It serves as the ultimate justification: “I am speaking the truth,” “I have truth on my side,” “I know the truth.”

Despite all of the truth centric rhetoric, some have labeled our time as ‘post-truth.’ We talk about facts over feelings, then lean into feelings. We claim a picture of reality while saying truth is relative or unknowable. Our intuition trumps data and we care more about who presents information then the information.

These contradictions raise important questions. Do we understand what truth is? Are we capable of assessing it? Is truth for the sake of truth relevant? In this volume of The Minutiae, we explore the functional understanding of truth and its role in people’s lives through a series of narrative studies and interactive articles. 

We invite you to engage in the conversation and help us build a clear understanding of truth. You could start by answering any or all of the following questions.

What is Truth? 

Is there objective Truth? If so, do we have access to it?

Is Truth relevant for trust?

What role does Truth play in our relationships, media consumption, and political engagement?