God, help me see the truth, no matter what it is. — Cole (AA Member)

The Truth About Truth: Most people use “truth” to mean what matches reality (correspondence theory; objective truth). Science is a powerful path toward such truth, though it too can be distorted by pressure, politics, or fraud. Your working definition of truth shapes beliefs, ethics, and daily choices.

Three umpires, three lenses — “I call them as they are” (objective: facts and evidence); “I call them as I see them” (subjective: personal perception and meaning); “They ain’t nothing until I call them” (constructed: social agreements and institutions). Confusing these lenses causes conflict and manipulation.

• Objective: observable, measurable, verifiable. “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.” — Philip K. Dick
• Subjective: personal experience and interpretation. Helpful when it aligns with facts; harmful when it denies them.
• Constructed: norms, rules, and meanings created by groups; they can change over time and vary by culture.

Notes: Facts alone don’t dictate values or policy (is–ought gap); media and leaders can shift perceptions by redefining terms or framing disputes. Clarifying which kind of “truth” is in play protects you from confusion and helps you act with integrity.

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. — J. Krishnamurti