"You'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly upon our own point of view."
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Return of the Jedi
When I heard this line in 1983 I groaned. I mean, what a cop out! Either Darth Vader was Luke's father or he wasn't. Truth, after all, was objective and verifiable, right?
Yeah, I should have listened to Ben sooner. While I'm not a complete skeptic, my epistemology has changed drastically since I was 16. Post-Newtonian Physics taught me that "point of view" or "frame of reference" means a lot in how you understand the universe. My studies in Philosophy taught me that great thinkers can construct very convincing arguments that are often diametrically opposed. My studies in Theology taught me that narrative truths are at least as important in explaining our world as physical facts.
So, yeah, I cling to truths based on a point of view. I think we all do. The more interesting question for me is do we do it consciously or passively?
40 for 40, #18
Comments
This has to be one of my top five mantras. I think I've used it in almost every paper I wrote in university, I use it when I talk to people about various things and it's something I intend to teach my daughter. Good choice! :D
Posted by: tamara | February 26, 2007 7:02 PM