Short Take: On "Universal Truth"
“You pagans reject universal truth, you only believe in particularist conditional morality and truth.”
Ok, Name a single universal truth.
Gravity doesn’t hold beyond the limits of mass wells, time breaks down arround blackholes, physics don’t hold at the extreme closeness to the Big Bang.
There is not a single identifiable universal truth. Philosophers have searched for the fount of all knowledge, the unconditional axiom which cannot be doubted or is not probabilistic or dependent on other assumptions... And the closest they ever found was Decartes Cogito “I think there for I am” the sentiments of an individual man in history WHO DIED, and is no longer thinking, and is no more.
To the extent it was true of Descartes himself it was a very particular and conditional truth to his time which he was solely? uniquely? in a position to judge for himself at that moment, to the extent he existed.
This is a matter of most basic metaphysics, and it could be argued as an outside probability that even this most funamental undeniable truth, was not even true in its core example, if one wanted to argue a conspiracy Descartes did not exist or was a pen-name of another philosopher, or that in his example Descartes himself was not saying it but rather his hypothetical decieved philosopher. “I think therefore I am” said the ficitional character. Even this requires prior assumptions and support from less grounded worldviews.
This for a matter of basic metaphysics that was supposed to assume away questions of matter and physics because Descartes worried he might be decieved...
then you get to questions of morality and it is plain no universal truth applies, given no axiom is even posited to universally bind both the Christian Saint and the Female Praying Mantis eating the head of her lover.
All truth, morality, culture, etc. Is fundamentally relational to one’s own judgement, will, values and closeness to others...
“I think therefore I am” is not an argument that can be used to pursuade another of the existence of your concienciousness... A fictional Character or AI can repeat the words just as easily. A P-Zombie or uncomprehending brain-damage patient can mouth the words.
It can only have value in one’s relation to oneself, as a matter of one’s own judgement, will, courage and confidence.
Any God or truth one can actually experience is a relation of one’s own head, their subconcious deep nature (genetic, ancestral, or otherwise), their values, and will.
If you are not at the center of your own universe then you are nowhere and nothing is anywhere. Everything you experience is particular to you. Why should your Gods be elsewise?
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Christians created this crazy supergroup called "pagan" that includes the vast majority of all religious traditions in history and whose only unifying factor is "not based on jewish books." But at the same time they still want to tar all those religions with the same brush and treat them all as having the same characteristics in contrast to the "true" ones.
The jewish religions just aren't that special. Most of the concepts contained in them were plagiarised from older civilisations surrounding them and mixed up with jewish narcissism and greed.
Anyone making broad claims about "pagans believe X" without being more specific should be treated like a retard.
I've had this tired old argument with my solipsist brother. You are asking the wrong question. The real question is what do you believe, and why?
I assert that we can be certain of nothing by the use of reason alone. Even Descartes, as you said, could be a fictional character.
Reason informs our faith, but in the end all reason rests on a foundation of faith. Everyone lives on a foundation of faith. Those who deny this are fools.
Light enters our eyes, pressure waves our ears, chemicals are smelled or tasted, textures are felt, but all these things are interpreted in our minds. Are they real? What is real? We can never be sure, or being sure, we could still be wrong.
There are three basic belief systems, or religions. One holds that God alone exists. One that only the universe exists. The third holds that both exist.
Buddhists and Hindus are God-alone types. Atheists, utilitarians, and materialists are universe-alone. Abrahamic religions believe in both.
In this system, if, like Descartes, I believe I exist and that is the only thing I can be sure of, then I do not believe the universe exists. Therefore I am God. It's called narcissism. This provides few behavioral restraints. It can also make things uncomfortable when interacting with the universe.
I choose to believe that truth exists. It is a rational belief founded on faith. It yields superior outcomes compared to beliefs that reject the existence of truth.
A faith in the existence of truth makes scientific inquiry possible.
I am certain truth exists while still admitting that I could be wrong. I am certain that truth exists even if I never know a single truth. The existence of truth does not need to be dependent on my ability to perceive it. If it did I would be God.