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Truth, Reality, and Perception
When push comes to shove, would you get on a plane designed according to “personal truth” or actual physics?
According to this national survey, among those between the ages of 18 and 29, 55% believe that each person determines their own truth while only 42% believe in absolute truth.
I was trained as an engineer. I am also in an older cohort — aged 41–55. For that group, 59% of us believe in absolute truth. I suspect the percentages for engineers are much higher.
For those who believe in absolute truth — we think that one plus one always equals two.
Now, of course, some will point out that this assumes we are not using a binary numeral system. And that we also assume we are not at some quantum boundaries.
Fine.
However, based on such conditions, one plus one equals two. It does not equal what you feel is the right number. Mathematical reality does not care about your feelings.
At this point, someone will point out the parable of the six blind men who touched an elephant. They each described the animal differently. The one who touched its trunk, for example, thought it resembled a snake. The one who touched its ear thought it resembled a fan. And so on.
