Finding the Truth

In a world where we find so many different opinions and beliefs, there is one thing we all have in common – we love winning an argument. The moment when differing opinions collide, we defend our position vehemently and attack with such ferocity that it sometimes seems our sense of self-worth all depends on winning this one argument.

How sad is it that we very seldom fight this hard to find the truth?

Winning an argument vs. finding the truth

Possessing the skill to eloquently overcome your adversaries and win arguments does not mean that you are right all the time. It simply means you know how to argue. You have the right argumentative tools and know how to use them. Winning an argument is not the same as being right. The country that wins the war does not necessarily hold the moral high ground – they just knew how to use their guns better. 

I think it would be safe to say that most people feel deep down that there is something like ‘truth’ in this world. Five hundred years ago, theologians and scientists had arguments about the position of the earth in the universe. Some said it was at the centre of the universe while others said the earth moved around the sun. Both parties had valid foundations for their arguments, since there was no conclusive proof backing any opinion. In the end, the politically stronger of the two simply won the argument by burning the other at the stake. Today, arguing about the position of the sun relative to the earth is not a matter of subjective opinion or relative ‘truth’. It is simply the truth that the earth moves around the sun. The truth has revealed itself.

Human beings want to know the truth

Looking at the most popular series’ on television today, we see a human kind thirsting for truth. Gone are the days were we enjoyed watching lawyers battling it out in court trying desperately to win the argument but not aiming to find the truth. Now we watch people using all kinds of wonderful tools (forensic science, intellect, persistence) to find the truth and bring bad people to justice. We wait in anticipation for the ‘eureka’ moment and celebrate with the heroes when together they find the missing clue that allows the truth to be revealed.  

We are tired of politicians trying to win a debate but callously forgetting about making the world a better place for all. We are tired of presidents that aim only at convincing us to vote them back into power while not using that power for our benefit. We are tired of leaders in senate or parliament that would rather see the country fail than working together for what is good and true. We are all tired of fighting each other to win an argument instead of striving to find the truth

Let us all today make a conscious choice that we will stop wasting our time and energy arguing with one another and rather work together, diligently, to find the truth.

This article was originally published on www.elmenlamprecht.com