The Subjectivity of Truth

My Constitution professor in college used to say, "One country's terrorists are another country's freedom fighters." Makes sense. As a realist, I am a firm believer of the subjectivity
of truth, i.e., truth (and morality and everything else) is dependent on the perspective of each person. It is shaped by the customs and traditions one grows up in, and can be altered or strengthened as that person knows more and more about the world. Like religion.

So there's no absolute truth. What is true for one person may be false for another. And who's to say that either is right or wrong? Take my professor's saying as an example. The al-Qaeda believes their fighters are waging a holy war against infidels and insurgents. They're fighting for their beliefs. That they're gonna get their 72 virgins quickly. Killing is no problem for them, if it is for their greater good. But their target countries don't always share the same belief. Parents lose their children, and vice versa. A country can lose a leader. When their important figureheads are taken down, the nation's morale plunges as well. They view the acts as terrorism, as wrong, as evil. And you can't blame them. And neither can you blame the "terrorists."

Don't get me wrong, personally, I'm against terrorism. But I'm pushing for realism here; I'm saying that if you were born among those extremist organizations, it's more than likely that you'll grow up believing in their fundamental truths. Same goes for growing up in that "victim country."

That's the whole point. We, as groups, shape our own truths. Different groups of the human race have different definitions of "truth," and given the opportunity, no-holds-barred debates about morality, religion and truth can and will go on forever. With arguments being repeated and reworded again and again. The only thing giving people objective truths are religion. And the human race has different religions. That makes the very concept of religion subjective as well. Are you getting my point here. I'm saying that anything that can be labeled as objective will always have something subjective about them.

Until we can rationally prove the existence of a deity or supreme being that dictates an objective truth in the universe, human conflict will always be present.

- AngryF