Truth, Reality, and Power: A Critique of Karl Popper from the Perspective of Rightfulness Discourse - Iman Falah

Abstract

In his philosophy, Karl Popper defines truth as an unattainable goal, framed as "objective truth" that depends on the alignment of theories with reality. This article critiques this perspective through the lens of Rightfulness Discourse, demonstrating that restricting truth to knowledge and reality leaves it vulnerable to manipulation by unrighteous powers. Finally, an approach is proposed where truth, based on rightfulness criteria (measures of justice), becomes the standard for assessing realities.

Introduction

Karl Popper, one of the most prominent philosophers of the 20th century, placed significant emphasis on critical thinking and falsifiability as the cornerstones of scientific knowledge. He introduced truth as a regulatory idea, unattainable in its entirety but a guiding objective for science to pursue. While this perspective has merits in preventing scientific dogmatism, it harbors significant vulnerabilities to the misuse of power by unrighteous entities.

This article examines Popper's views on truth and reality, critiques them through the lens of Rightfulness Discourse, and proposes a solution to foster the presence of truth and promote a culture of rightfulness in society.

Karl Popper's Views on Truth and Reality

Popper defines truth as the correspondence of propositions with reality but maintains that this correspondence can never be definitively proven. In his works, including The Logic of Scientific Discovery and Conjectures and Refutations, he emphasizes:

1. Scientific knowledge is always provisional and falsifiable.
2. Objective truth exists, but we can only approach it, never fully attain it.

Critique from the Perspective of Rightfulness Discourse

From the viewpoint of Rightfulness Discourse, Popper's perspective has limitations that enable the distortion of truth (substituting constructed realities for truth) by unrighteous powers:

1. Truth as a Tool for Unrighteous Power: In unrighteous discourse, science, art, skills, and ultimately all endeavors become tools to justify the interests of power. If truth is reduced to knowledge and reality, those who control knowledge and reality can redefine truth to serve their purposes.
2. Distortion of Human Values: Concepts such as freedom, justice, independence, and growth are redefined in unrighteous discourse to align with power interests.
3. Lack of Rightfulness Criteria (Measures of Justice) to Assess Truth: Popper evaluates truth based on reality, yet reality can be manipulated by unrighteous powers. Without rightfulness criteria, distorted realities cannot be effectively critiqued.

Proposal: Truth Based on Rightfulness Criteria

To prevent the misuse of knowledge and reality, it is necessary to:

1. Make Truth the Standard for Assessing Reality: Rather than evaluating truth based on reality, realities should be assessed based on truth and the characteristics of rightfulness previously described. This truth must be tied to principles such as justice, freedom, and human dignity.
2. Critique Based on Rightfulness Criteria: Achievements in science, art, and technology should be critiqued and reviewed based on rightfulness criteria, helping to prevent deviations and distortions.
3. Adopt Rightfulness Discourse as a Sustainable Approach: Rightfulness Discourse can align science, art, and skills with truth and rightfulness rather than power.

An Example Highlighting the Difference Between Truth and Reality

To clarify the distinction between truth and reality and emphasize the importance of rightfulness criteria, consider the following example:

Reality: Suppose an individual attacks another with a knife. The reality is that:

1. The knife penetrated the victim, causing harm.
2. Investigating the incident can uncover more realities, such as: The perpetrator: Who committed the attack? The motives: What were the assailant's intentions? Environmental factors: Where and how did the incident occur?

While these details are important, they merely describe and analyze existing realities.

Truth: From the perspective of Rightfulness Discourse, analyzing this event transcends describing surface realities to address human rights and foundational principles of rightfulness:

1. The Right to Peace and Security: Truth reveals that the victim was deprived of their right to peace and security. This right pertains not only to the assailant but also to a society that failed to ensure these capacities.
2. The Right to Life: This incident is a violation of the victim's right to life, which must be addressed through a culture of rightfulness by examining:
3. The Role of Society and Institutions: Truth examines whether social, economic, or cultural factors contributed to the motivation behind the attack, such as:
4. Accountability to Rights: Truth evaluates how individual and societal institutions, through a culture of rightfulness, address these rights:

Conclusion of the Example:

• Reality: Focuses solely on objective and material aspects, such as the knife penetrating the victim and identifying motives.
• Truth: Emphasizes human rights violations, societal roles, and cultural accountability, providing a deeper analysis of the causes and resolutions.

This example demonstrates that truth, as a standard rooted in rightfulness, can examine realities more deeply and help dissolve unrighteousness (melting the iceberg of unrighteousness) in society.

Conclusion

Karl Popper’s perspective on truth, despite his valuable contributions to defending critical thinking and scientific freedom, is vulnerable to manipulation by unrighteous powers due to its reduction of truth to reality.

From the standpoint of Rightfulness Discourse, truth must be defined as the standard for assessing reality and pursued based on rightfulness principles. Only then can truth and rightfulness thrive in society and prevent the distortion of knowledge and human values.

References

1. Popper, Karl. The Logic of Scientific Discovery. Routledge, 1959.
2. Popper, Karl. Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge. Routledge, 1963.
3. Popper, Karl. Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach. Oxford University Press, 1972.