How to Tell Truthfulness from Falsehood - Research Paper Example

Evidence is anything offered to support an assertion. However, it can exist as physical items, or possibly, physical items organized in particular ways. These physical items are those that might be placed in plastic bags; send to a laboratory or dug up from the ground, among others. Additionally, in physiology, the notion of evidence is carefully tied to epistemology, this is because what is termed as evidence captures our epistemic situation or unconsciously or consciously captures the belief of our epistemic situation. WO Quine who is a great empiricist claimed that evidence is comprised of the stimulation of an individual’s sensory receptors while another great empiricist named Bertrand Russell states that evidence is sensitive information, the mental items of one’s consciousness. Additionally, it is also tied closely to the philosophy of science. Unquestionably, the term evidence is barely a philosopher’s word of art. Philosophers are not the only personalities who regularly speak of evidence, but also judges, lawyers, scientists, historians, and reporters speak of it often. Therefore, the notion of evidence is stronger on a pre-theoretical ground than several other notions that enjoy similar fundamental standings within philosophy. If one relates philosophical explanations of evidence with the manner the notion is often used in non-philosophical notions, confusion comes up. For instance, if you see how the non-philosophers like the historians, forensic scientists, and archeologists, among others term, evidence their perception is quite different from that of the philosophers. Therefore evidence is based on belief (Kelly, 15).
How to tell truthfulness from falsehood
Reality can have a more complicated and fluid explanation than we might understand. Rather than being a tangible ability to view black and white dissimilarities concerning ideas and establishing beliefs on external evidence, an individual’s idea of reality can accommodate opposing beliefs, reject, and disregard the truth when suitable, or embrace ideas seemingly outrageous in a sane biosphere. A postmodern work of falsehood permits for the changing and shifting of reality, hence providing the audience an alternative reality to associate the alleged truth outside the work. According to Winston, reality is something impartial, external, and existing in its particular right, the nature of truth is self-evident. However, Kant challenges Winston's idea and states the idea of reality is all in the human mind. Kant illustrated a strong distinction concerning our perceptions of reality and the factual object of perception. His main insight was the consciousness that all we always recognize are the structures created in our minds, and the biosphere gives growth to this perception. Moreover, Kant twisted the epistemological globe inside out, stating that we are not inactive experiencers of the biosphere, we are the makers of the biosphere we experience. Therefore, to distinguish reality from falsehood one should base his or her judgment on the state of the human mind (Approaches, 9)
Tools at the disposal of a critical mind to uncover evidence
Critical thinking is the tool at the disposal of a critical mind that ensures that an individual discovers evidence and comes up with reasonable conclusions. Critical thinking is a redemptive force in learning and an influential force in an individual’s civic and personal life. Synonymously with good reasoning, critical thinking is self-regulatory and pervasive.
An ideal critical thinker is always well informed, inquisitive, reasonable in choosing criteria, flexible, open-minded, careful in making judgments, persistent in finding results and concentrated in inquiry, among others.
The evaluation of the statements of an individual whether they are true or false so as to come up with evidence relies on structures formed in an individual’s mind. Lastly, critical thinking skills are also vital in carrying out reasonable analysis on what to consider as evidence (Belief, 6) Read More