truth

An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 11 – Ethics 1 (Relativism) – Part 3: Does this dress make me look fat?

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Ethical relativism challenges the idea that moral rules are universal. Like the trick question, “Does this dress make me look fat?”, the answer often depends on context. The “right” answer isn’t always universal, but is instead shaped by culture, personal connections, and situational factors. This doesn’t mean that there are no moral absolutes, but it recognizes that ethical decisions are sometimes fluid, and the most ethical choice may involve understanding the person asking and the context of the question.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 10 – God 2 (Atheism) – Part 7: Summary – Heads or tails?

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After everything we’ve explored, there’s no clear answer. No airtight proof for or against God. Reasonable people, standing on opposite sides of the same question, each convinced they’re being honest. At the core, we’re not theists or atheists as much as we are agnostics with preferences. Faith doesn’t need certainty—doubt is its companion. The opposite of faith is not doubt, but knowledge—the kind that closes the conversation. Instead, we engage in abduction reasoning, trying to make sense of incomplete evidence. Some see God in the universe. Others don’t. Different stories, same data. The question of God might not be about solving a math problem but about how we reason, what we fear, what we hope, and the uncertainty we can live with.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 10 – God 2 (Atheism) – Part 2: Does God have dissociative identity disorder?

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If God were a universal, fixed reality, why is there such discord over God’s nature? The contradictions within religious belief—peace and holy war, mercy and vengeance—are normalized. What we believe about God is often determined by where and when we were born, shaped by culture, language, and history. A God who deeply cares about being known correctly would leave less room for confusion. So the real question is: are we projecting different gods based on our geography, or is God truly fragmented across cultures?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology – Part 7: Summary – Will truth prevail?

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Truth is rarely welcomed with open arms at first. History reminds us that genuine knowledge often arrives disguised as disruption, challenging what feels safe and familiar. Epistemology teaches us that truth doesn’t need immediate approval to endure. When an idea survives scrutiny, resistance, and time, it earns its place in our understanding. Wisdom grows not by avoiding challenge, but by meeting it with courage.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology Part 2: Have we met?

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Gaslighting thrives on confusion, repetition, and doubt. Epistemology gives us a way back to solid ground by teaching us how to evaluate sources, check claims, and trust careful reasoning over manipulation. When we learn how knowledge works, fake certainty loses its grip, and clarity becomes an act of quiet resistance.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology Part 1: Introduction – How do we know what we know?

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Much of what we think we know comes to us secondhand, carried along by stories, traditions, and trusted voices. Epistemology invites us to slow down and examine those beliefs more closely. It asks us to look at how knowledge is formed, tested, and justified, helping us distinguish between what merely circulates and what truly holds up. This is where philosophy teaches us to think for ourselves.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 02 – Logic Part 4: Can you handle the truth?

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Logic isn’t only a shield against bad arguments from others; it’s a mirror we hold up to ourselves. It helps us notice when comfort has replaced truth, and when belief has slipped into self-deception. While this kind of clarity can sting, it’s also freeing. Facing reality with open eyes is one of the most powerful acts of self-respect philosophy offers.

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