Differences of Truth in Mathematics, Ethics and Art

Differences of Truth in Mathematics, Ethics and Art The rational minds profound and abstract speculations since time immemorial has been the nature of truth, a deeply rooted philosophical conundrum[1], whose thought itself has revolutionized the realistic value possessed by the areas of knowledge. Truth itself preoccupies a substantial role in our daily conversations, but its multi-dimensional nature has perplexed even the most profound thinkers like Plato and Aristotle as well as recent philosophers who have failed in uncovering this mystery lying at the heart of human culture. Although the word truth is tagged with the purpose of a utilitarian role, we humans mould it into a form recognized by the conceptual framework of our human mind, otherwise known as a schema. Hence the question of the value of truth involved in any statement is believed to be a consequence of the social constructivism based on beliefs and our rearing. Over the past years, truth has been dealt with individually in terms of its approach towards an array of knowl edge areas. The extent is an underpinning of the diverse perspectives that truth holds in a variety of areas of knowledge. Thus, it indicates not only a difference in the form of truth but also a similarity involved in deciphering the existence of truth. My essay ventures to explain the extent to which truth has been given varied significance in three distinct areas of knowledge; mathematics, arts and ethics in terms of the characteristics which define them. Since the abstract nature of truth has posed to be a universal dilemma, various theories have been formulated to gauge the truth value of any statement. Mathematics is often considered the language of certainty[2]and well-known for its infallibility and abstract thought. What makes mathematicians and philosophers believe that mathematics is closest to the absolute truth is its logical structure of methodology and judgments, and its influence on solvability to achieve an absolutely correct or incorrect answer. The mathematical truth is bound by certain rules and barriers which encompass this area of knowledge, hence a more constrained approach built on pure logic, and deductive-reasoning influences the truth involved in a mathematical stand-point. In mathematics a statement must be true or false is a clichà ©d saying and reflects the overall understanding which defines the outcome. Most mathematicians agree the fact that the set theory forms the firm foundation upon which the complex structure of math has been erected. But what intrigues these mathematicians is that can such an abstract area have any real life applications? A glimpse into the history of mathematics would surely assert the above question. For example, a number of theories in the past were thought to be a mere theoretical phenomenon but today behold a firm position in the real world. The Non-Euclidian Geometry was first considered as an idealistic branch of mathematics, but today has carved its way into the theories of relativity. In the present global situation, the population of the world has crossed the six billion mark and threatens to exponentially make its way up through the population charts. For example in China, in order to curb the population rush in the country, the government has pressed upon having one baby per family. From the mathematical view-point, the objective truth lies in the fact that in order to restore the habitat around us it is vital to take such a step in the interest o f the future generations. From the ethical stance, their version of truth is completely antipodal because the basis of a truth-value in this statement is a reflection of ones emotional self rather than a projection of a logical mind. In ethics, hence, an argument is a rhetoric affair where people need to be persuaded what I believe rather than proving the trueness involved in my proposition. I feel that my observation into this example is a projection of the extent to which one event holds a different stance from the spectacle of the truth value supporting the claim. What defines a stark line of difference between math and ethics as deciphered from the above example is the conflicting nature of moral opinions and that there are no observable facts to base the truth value on in an ethical viewpoint. The difference in moral opinions amongst people may be lead by the cognitive apparatus of the individual. Since ethics is considered to be a matter of personal concern, influenced by prev ious knowledge and experiences of the individual, the moral differences would explain that in ethics, there is no underlying truth to be discovered. But what defines morality in ethics is the position of ethical relativism, the belief that ethical view-points are relative to one culture or another. One of the most indignant moral issues at hand is abortion. Every individual agrees the medical procedures which culminate into an abortion. But there seems to be an equally repulsive response when it comes to agreeing the morality of abortion. In short, the matter of abortion has its agreement on medical science but doesnt touch upon the area of medical ethics. So, at all points of time, the entire scenario is a relative representation of a statement and it is an appearance but not the reality. I have always observed myself making hollow as well as emotionally driven promises and always have the statement Promises ought to be kept at the back of my mind. This seems to be a moral principl e, but it cannot be categorized as a factual claim. But on close observation, the truth factor within the statement shows close relations between such a statement and a mathematical proposition. If the phenomenon of promise is known and the true essence of its obligation is understood, there exists a relation between ideas. Though relativism and subjectivism are parallel in certain terms, art as an area of knowledge has been considered as a representation of reality. Friedrich Nietzsche aphorism We have art in order not to die of the truth, self-consciously asserts the fact that this world has art in order to live the truth. Though the ways of knowing have paved the path for the route to attaining truth in these three areas of knowledge, where reasoning, emotion and perception have dominated the approach to the ultimate reality in math, ethics and arts respectively, the truth value in each of its statements has a certain similarity. The form of assumptions which are utilized in proving a certain statement to be true is a recurring observation in all three areas of knowledge. The kind of truth that art is striving to convey to us may be completely different from the ay an individual may perceive it. Hence how do we judge a piece of art if it holds completely different opinions in the minds of 2 people? When viewing a work of art, it may evoke an emotion, and the recognition of this emotion may be an indication of the truth. However, there is a common view-point amongst people that photography has revolutionized the way truth is perceived since it portrays a much more accurate picture of the entire scenari o. Since the photo is a mere observation and appearances are truly deceptive. It is established that the truth involved in a painting is not prejudiced but a projection of the individuals personal interpretation, hence speaks about the viewer. Truth in terms of art is a reflection of beauty and is completely devoid of any form of logic. Truth has been shaped in numerous ways pertaining to the satisfaction of the individual contesting the truth in his mind. There is one single truth in relation to a statement and through the exploration into three distinct areas of knowledge, I have understood that the method of approaching the subject is what defines the truth involved in it. Plato himself argued to a great extent that there is a definite answer for anything to be considered good or bad, if one exercises his deductive reasoning skills as opposed to what the Sophists believed that such statements are a matter of subjective truth and is totally based on human interpretation and his desire.

Home For Christmas Essay

Alexander Williams sighed as he rummaged through the huge stack of articles that covered his desk. He only had one week to make his final decision and he knew without any doubt, his final answer to Maria Carter wouldn’t be easy. She had begged him to stay with the newspaper agency, time and time, again. She had grown rather fond of him over the years and it broke her heart knowing that this would most likely be the last week she had to spend with him. She did know that his heart was in New Hampshire where he had grown up and would always be the one place he could truly call home. Charlotte, North Carolina had been the beautiful city where he had lived and worked for more than two decades and although he had became familiar with his surroundings and had made many friends in the Queen City, he still desperately felt that the remainder of his years should be spent with his close family. The Charlotte Gazette had offered him a prominent and enjoyable writing position where he wrote daily articles, but still, there was this huge need to return to his roots. â€Å"I see you’re still with us, Williams. I don’t see boxes full of photographs and awards, so far. It’s a good sign! † Maria knew that he had probably already made up his mind to go but still every time she passed his office, her curiosity made her peek inside to make sure he hadn’t made packed up his belongings. He had been her top journalist since day one at the Gazette and the thought of not seeing his smiling face and hearing his enthusiastic voice radiating through the building saddened her, greatly! â€Å"I’m seriously torn, Maria. I know I should just make up my mind and give you a definite answer but I can’t. I’m taking this last week to think it over but one thing’s for sure, if I do decide to move to New Hampshire, you‘ll be the first to know. † â€Å"But, you’ll miss out on the huge Christmas party on Friday. † Spending time with Alexander at Christmas had been a festive occasion that she had always looked forward to and now she knew she had no other choice but to get used to the idea of him not being there. â€Å"Seeing you dressed as Mrs. Claus would be exciting! † Alexander smiled as he thought about seeing his boss in the red garb that stretched across her arm. It’s all up to you and I do have several interviews scheduled but I’m still hoping we won’t need to fill your position. I seriously doubt anyone is capable of filling your shoes, anyway. † Maria had known what an expert writer was all about, the first day he walked into her office and asked for the position. He had a remarkable resume and when she took a look at some of his sample articles, she knew he was her man. He was able to create prize-winning stories out of ordinary events and had made The Charlotte Gazette one of the best-selling newspapers in the country! For the next week, Alexander had spent every extra second going over his decision. His mother had begged him to come home and his sister and brother told him they had already found him the perfect house where he could retire, happily and grow old without the hassle of rushing to his office and fretting over every little incident that took place in Charlotte. They knew Alexander had spent far too many years away from home and they yearned for him to return to the place where he grew up. On Friday, the entire building was decorated to perfection. Each red ribbon that draped the office doors were sparkling with glitter and every snowflake that hang from the ceiling reminded him that Christmas was near. The boxes had already been neatly packed in the corner of his office and when Maria saw with her own eyes that there wasn’t even a single photograph, in sight, she realized he had made his final decision. He was going home to his family. He was retiring and giving up something that she knew more than anyone, was the biggest passion in his life. She was going to miss him more than he would ever know. She should have told him about her strong emotions for him but it was too late. There was no sense in even asking him to stay, again. She could see as he looked into her eyes that he had made his choice. â€Å"Need some help with those boxes? † She tried to say it without him seeing her eyes tearing up but it was hopeless now and she had already shown him how vulnerable she felt about what he was doing. â€Å"And, a ride to the airport if you can swing it? Taking cabs are so informal, you know? † He had dreaded this part of moving more than anything but he did want to spend his last few hours with the woman who he had grown so close to over the years. The ride to the airport was spent with lots of laughter and as the first snowflakes of winter blew through the city, Alexander not only felt sadness about leaving but he started to feel the joy of the season with each new bluster of white. He hoped he had made the right choice in leaving his writing position at the Gazette but he knew he would always feel a tugging at his heart when he thought about his job there and of course, when he remembered Maria and as they said their last goodbye, the tears in each of their eyes said more than they could ever dare with mere words. The Christmas party was in full swing and the band hand been playing carols for nearly an hour before Santa finally arrived. Mrs. Claus was sitting comfortably in her chair handing out the first gifts as the lead band member asked for silence in the room. â€Å"It isn’t proper for Mrs. Claus to do all the work on such a special occasion! We have a special gentleman do all the grunt work. † He enlightened them through the microphone. As Santa Claus entered the room, the crowd applauded while he moved closer to the huge stack of presents under the tree and to Mrs. Claus who tried to smile through her sadness. I have a special gift for Mrs. Claus! † Santa belted out in laughter, followed by a jolly, â€Å"Ho ho ho! † The beard that covered his face was a wonderful disguise and as she opened the tiny red box and saw the engagement ring that glistened many colors as it reflected the brilliant lights from the tree, Maria was now crying tears of happiness. As she pulled the beard from Santa’s face, Alexander kissed her warmly. â€Å"Home is where I do need to be, Maria Carter and spending one day away from you, reminded me that home truly is where your heart is! I want to spend everyday, home with you! †

India: A Socialist, Secular and Democratic Country Essay

SOCIALIST The word socialist was added to the Preamble by the 42nd amendment act of 1976, during the Emergency. It implies social and economic equality. Social equality in this context means the absence of discrimination on the grounds only of caste, colour, creed, sex, religion, or language. Under social equality, everyone has equal status and opportunities. Economic equality in this context means that the government will endeavor to make the distribution of wealth more equal and provide a decent standard of living for all. This is in effect emphasizing a commitment towards the formation of a welfare state. India has adopted a mixed economy and the government has framed many laws to achieve the aim. SECULAR The word secular was inserted into the Preamble by the 42nd amendment act of 1976, during the Emergency. It implies equality of all religions and religious tolerance. India, therefore does not have an official state religion. Every person has the right to preach, practice and propagate any religion they choose. The government must not favour or discriminate against any religion. It must treat all religions with equal respect. All citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs are equal in the eyes of law. No religious instruction is imparted in government or government-aided schools. Nevertheless, general information about all established world religions is imparted as part of the course in Sociology, without giving any importance to any one religion or the others. The content presents the basic/fundamental information with regards to the fundamental beliefs, social values and main practices and fesitivals of each established world religions. The Supreme Court in S.R Bommai v. Union of India held that secularism was an integral part of the basic structure of the constitution. DEMOCRATIC India is a democracy. The people of India elect their governments at all levels (Union, State and local) by a system of universal adult franchise; popularly known as ‘One man.

The Experience of a Journey in Literature Essay examples

â€Å"People create their own Questions because their too afraid to look straight. But all you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it don’t sit looking at it walk†. (Ayn Reed) Physical journeys can involve a range of experiences and emotions. They can be taken for a range of reasons, they also involve choices being made when individuals encounter obstacles or move to new places. This idea is conveyed through Peter skrzynchi’s poems â€Å"Crossing the Red Sea† and Migrant Hostel†. In addition to David Marr’s article â€Å"Life in Limbo† and Nooria Wazefadost life story article â€Å"A young refugees plea for a better future†. It is through these texts that the composers convey their experiences of the journey, using effective†¦show more content†¦Others, however, are still dealing with the past, the beautiful â€Å"red poppies† one migrant talks about, only reminds another of â€Å"blood discolouring stone† and â€Å"rusted iron†. This juxtaposition of imagery presents to the responder the different emotional journeys that still have to be travelled. This clearly demonstrates that people on the same physical journey react differently to it, depending on previous experience. In the last stanza of â€Å"Crossing the red sea† Skrzynechi uses the image of sunrise to symbolise that the new lives of the immigrants are only starting and that there is a new and better future ahead of them. The sunrise is also used to tell the responder that although it is the end of the poem, it is but only the beginning of the migrant’s journey to a better place both physically and emotionally. This helps the responder understand that in this particular journey, the migrants made a choice to move to a new country and overcome the obstacles that went in their way, as also to forget the past. â€Å"Escape from life in limbo† is an article about Ahmed AL-Kateb’s life long journey to finally belong somewhere, and have a chance at a secure future .This story published on the 27/10/07 in Sydney Morning Herald by David Marr, is a heart wrenching story as it triggers the senses when one feels empathy for Ahmed- Al- Kateb .His journey began, when he was born in 1976, theShow MoreRelatedThe Pursuit Of Self Discovery1012 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature, a body of written works, is something that I sometimes find myself leisurely immersing in. It allows for the limitations of my own ordinary situations to be seized momentarily whilst I let mind be free and my own imagination wander. The pursuit of self-discovery is present within many forms of literature and can be told through plots and central characters. I often discover new societal universal longings that arise from the novels pages which encourages me to reflect on my own senseRead MoreSelf Discovery In Ani ta Nairs Ladiesbor1330 Words   |  6 Pagesthe theme of self discovery through the act of journey in Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupe. Travel narratives are broad genres which illuminate mainly on people, place and culture. Journeys form the focal point of every travel narrative. In literature, the motif of journey is used as a distinctive idea or theme and is used to represent a character’s epiphany or self realization. It provides a personal assertion outside the compressed state of one’s life. Journey is seen as a means of confrontation and as anRead More Children’s Literature through an Americanized Scope1232 Words   |  5 Pageswesterners in Gloria Whelan’s Homeless Bird and Deborah Ellis’s Parvana’s Journey in her article â€Å"Beyond Borders: Reading ‘Other’ Places in Children’s Literature.† Stewart claims that multicultural texts are significant, and that diverse perspectives in conjunction with western existence and beliefs are poignant to a young student’s education. But multicultural literature is dismal, in regards to works about other places and experiences by non-westerners with a lack of the â€Å"other† and its representationsRead MoreCanonical Angst in Young Adolescent Literature by Elysia Liang785 Words   |  3 PagesYoung adult literature is a blooming literary category. This newly discovered territory is ever developing. Elysia Liang, author of Canonical Angst in Young Adolescent Literature, insists, â€Å"The notion of adolescence as a stepping-stone between childhood and adulthood is recent† (2). She associates this with a direct change in childhood development, stating, â€Å"Before the 20th century, the marker of adulthood was entrance into the work-force. With children as young as 10 holding jobs to help supportRead MoreThe Odyssey and Dantes Inferno1300 Words   |  5 Pagesbeing told the tale from the heart of a poet, whether it be r omance, adventure or simply a story from experiences. And perhaps there are no better poets that are better able to drag their willing audience along a journey than Homer and Dante. The epic tales of The Odyssey and Inferno, respectively, were seemingly written along a parallel train of thought when describing their characters journey, easily engaging the creative functions of the reader with adventurous tales of hope and adventure. TheirRead MoreThe Heros Journey In The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Matrix1291 Words   |  6 PagesIn all of literature, patterns and stages of the hero’s journey can be seen and identified within every story. Joseph Campbell applied the term â€Å"monomyth† to stories in order to describe basic stages that every hero quest goes through. When Joseph identified these common parts of stories, he helped connect the world of literature and establish recurring characters, actions, and situations. Even when pieces of literature that seem to hav e no connection to each other are examined, such as The MatrixRead MoreThe Odyssey And The Hitchhikers Guide To The Odyssey992 Words   |  4 PagesThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Odyssey The model of The Hero’s Journey has been used in a multitude of ways through the development of literature. This famous plot line describes the series of epic events that a hero faces throughout the story to ultimately find the solution to a problem. As shown in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, and The Odyssey, by Homer, The Hero’s Journey has guided authors to write their stories in the past and even today. Odysseus and Arthur Dent, describedRead MoreThe American Concept Of Self Creation1647 Words   |  7 PagesThe American concept of Self-Creation is a theme throughout American Literature and represented in the American society. An individual assuming a new identity to avoid danger or ridding themselves of a past life, are two examples of the literary concept of Self-Creation. In Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, we see the main character undergo several examples of â€Å"self-creation† during the course of th e story for various motivations including those mentioned above. Throughout AdventuresRead MoreLiterature Is A Powerful Medium Of Communication1232 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Life is a journey not a rollercoaster ride† (Joens), but it can be merry-go-round, just go around, like nothing. For those who haven’t experienced much of their lives yet, can explore the world and prepare themselves for facing human conditions through reading literature. Literature is known as a powerful medium of communication, so some extent literature teaches us the importance to develop our own social voice. Social voice is a type of communication that builds up as people goes through theirRead MorePoetry Essay - There Is No Frigate Like a Book849 Words   |  4 Pagesdenotation and connotation show us how literature allows use of our imagination to go on a journey. At first glance it may seem that Emily Dickinson has written a simple poem in â€Å"There Is No Frigate like a Book†. However, further analysis reveals that she believes reading is a gift to all. Through observation of the poem we find her fascination with reading and the poem’s ability to take her reader on a journey; as well as reveal how reading can take us on any journey we wish to embark. The theme of