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Full Idea
Whoever denies the existence of truth grants that truth does not exist: and if truth does not exist, then the proposition 'Truth does not exist' is true: and if there is anything true, there must be truth.
Gist of Idea
If the existence of truth is denied, the 'Truth does not exist' must be true!
Source
Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Art 1, Obj 3)
Book Ref
'The Existence of God', ed/tr. Hick,John [Macmillan 1964], p.31
A Reaction
A classic example of turning the tables, also applicable to anyone who firmly denies knowledge, or that words are meaningful, or says that meaning needs verification. However, one measily truth is not much consolation.
| 21248 | If the existence of truth is denied, the 'Truth does not exist' must be true! [Aquinas] |
| 4508 | The truth is what gives us the minimum of spiritual effort, and avoids the exhaustion of lying [Nietzsche] |
| 18986 | Truth is just a name for verification-processes [James] |
| 15569 | Heidegger says truth is historical, and never absolute [Heidegger, by Polt] |
| 19636 | Truth is just an error insufficiently experienced [Cioran] |
| 19642 | Eventually every 'truth' is guaranteed by the police [Cioran] |
| 15042 | Truth doesn't arise from solitary freedom, but from societies with constraints [Foucault] |
| 21877 | True thoughts are inaccessible, in the subconscious, prior to speech or writing [Derrida] |
| 4756 | Derrida says that all truth-talk is merely metaphor [Derrida, by Engel] |
| 4726 | Rorty seems to view truth as simply being able to hold one's view against all comers [Rorty, by O'Grady] |
| 10820 | In the early 1930s many philosophers thought truth was not scientific [Field,H] |