Truth

The Problem

Truth has become a game of perception and interpretation rather than objective reality. The ideal: truth independent of belief, verifiable, universal. The reality: filtered through incentives, relationships, and power.

Alethic Pluralism

Not a single universal concept of truth. Different domains may require different truth predicates:

• Science: Empirical, falsifiable, replicable
• Ethics: Contextual, culturally influenced, evolving
• Aesthetics: Subjective, experiential, non-transferable

This isn't relativism — it's acknowledging that "truth" operates differently across domains. A mathematical proof and a moral intuition are both "true" in different senses.

The Incentive Corruption

"I want something from you, so I can't antagonize you. I'll be a politician and dilute the truth — bring what pleases rather than what elevates."

Every relationship with asymmetric power or need corrupts truth-telling. The greater the dependency, the greater the distortion. This is why advisors paid by commission recommend what sells, not what works. Why employees tell bosses what they want to hear. Why politicians mirror polls instead of leading.

Reference: Video essay on truth