Yes, the truth can be banal.

Post #25,481 by marlowe 1/24/02 12:46:31 PM Reply	Yes, the truth can be banal. But whose fault is that? [link\|http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/marlowe/index.html\|http://www.angelfir...e/index.html] Sometimes "tolerance" is just a word for not dealing with things.
Post #25,485 by Ashton 1/24/02 12:55:50 PM Reply	There is no such thing as 'The Truth' And use of such a phrase indicates a level of incompetence in debate as .. guarantees that no communication shall be possible, only sloganeering. 'Truth' OTOH is ever green and lively - when captured fleetingly and expressed brilliantly. There are many truths but many many more slogans that are grey and.. died, yet like Zombies - persist in usage. Banal is.. well, banal.
Post #25,494 by marlowe 1/24/02 1:15:38 PM Reply	You just hit the bottom, Ash. When you've stooped to something as lame as "there is no Truth, dumbass!" you've made what amounts to an admission of defeat, minus the good grace. Never mind that it's a self stultifying statement. Nihilism is sour grapes. And you know that's true. [link\|http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/marlowe/index.html\|http://www.angelfir...e/index.html] Sometimes "tolerance" is just a word for not dealing with things.
Post #25,657 by Ashton 1/24/02 11:56:34 PM Reply	Read with care, for a change: "There is no THE Truth." was my comment. Note the definite, exclusive, singular article (concluding all alternative versions): T H E Eschewing the didactic use of such phrases as The Truth - is merely good practice in recognizing the incompleteness of our knowledge about most any situation: especially where it involves homo-sapiens, ego and the use and misuse of language. We may be a bit more certain if the topic is one merely about, say physics (unless and until somehow.. turgid ideas like -say- 'philosophy of science' also creep into the mix) yada yada. Finally, throwing in shotgun style an idea like nothingness (a daunting idea in the first place) - after one has missed the above point? deserves not even a riposte. Non sequitur. If you are still in doubt about the boorishness of using this phrase - please rent and re-view Rashomon and then we can go on to What Is Truth? or maybe just an explanation of why it is that your fondness for assigning half-vast philosophical labels to those of contrary opinion - is a grade-school habit which doesn't improve with age. Ashton
Post #25,684 by marlowe 1/25/02 9:08:29 AM Reply	That may be true for you. But it's not true for me. Which makes it your problem. Not mine. Balkanization of the truth cuts both ways. Don't brag about having quit the field of intellectual battle. (Unless you're French or something. They've been making a virtue of cowardice since the Vichy regime.) You're not above such controversies. You're beneath them. As Lily Tomlin would put it: And that's the Truth. Pppvbfft! [link\|http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/marlowe/index.html\|http://www.angelfir...e/index.html] Sometimes "tolerance" is just a word for not dealing with things.

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