{"id":82463,"date":"2024-10-17T09:56:15","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T14:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=82463"},"modified":"2024-10-17T09:56:16","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T14:56:16","slug":"philosophy-cafe-discusses-truth-about-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=82463","title":{"rendered":"Philosophy Cafe discusses &#8220;Truth about Truth&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By ADIA REYNOLDS Photos by RORY MOORE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The FHSU Philosophy Department hosted a Philosophy Cafe on Tuesday, this time discussing the concept of truth. \u201cTruth and Tolerance\u201d is one in a series of recurrent meetings of the Philosophy Cafe at the Paisley Pear in Hays. Young prospective philosophers no longer congregate on the steps of Athenian architecture but at the social spheres of local restaurants.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA lot of people don\u2019t sit down and try to think these things through.\u201d Assistant Professor of Philosophy David Tostenson said. \u201cThat\u2019s the value of philosophy. Even if you just define basic concepts, that\u2019s still a win. It removes the muddle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"329\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82469\" data-id=\"82469\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-002.jpg?resize=790%2C329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-002.jpg?resize=1024%2C426&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-002.jpg?resize=370%2C154&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-002.jpg?resize=150%2C62&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-002.jpg?resize=768%2C320&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-002.jpg?resize=1536%2C639&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-002.jpg?w=1783&amp;ssl=1 1783w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Carl Miller, Nicole Feyerherm and Davon Moret listen to Dr. Tostenson&#8217;s lecture.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"614\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82468\" data-id=\"82468\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-003.jpg?resize=790%2C614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-003.jpg?w=1013&amp;ssl=1 1013w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-003.jpg?resize=335%2C260&amp;ssl=1 335w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-003.jpg?resize=150%2C117&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-003.jpg?resize=768%2C597&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Moret follows a sheet of philosophies Tostenson speaks about.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"489\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82467\" data-id=\"82467\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-004.jpg?resize=790%2C489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-004.jpg?resize=1024%2C634&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-004.jpg?resize=370%2C229&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-004.jpg?resize=150%2C93&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-004.jpg?resize=768%2C475&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-004.jpg?w=1259&amp;ssl=1 1259w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Miller and Feyerherm listen.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"489\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82466\" data-id=\"82466\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-005.jpg?resize=790%2C489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-005.jpg?resize=1024%2C634&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-005.jpg?resize=370%2C229&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-005.jpg?resize=150%2C93&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-005.jpg?resize=768%2C475&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-005.jpg?w=1265&amp;ssl=1 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Moret listens to the ideas Tostenson talks about.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"624\" height=\"785\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82465\" data-id=\"82465\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-001.jpg?resize=624%2C785\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-001.jpg?w=624&amp;ssl=1 624w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-001.jpg?resize=207%2C260&amp;ssl=1 207w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-001.jpg?resize=119%2C150&amp;ssl=1 119w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">David Tostenson leads the Philosophy Cafe inside the Paisley Pear.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Paisley Pear is equal parts a social site and popular wine bar. Their official website describes their mission values as this ideal: \u201cWe want you to come in with your parents, brothers, sisters, kids, friends and everything in between for a fun and relaxing time.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern college students are not known for their draw towards the philosophical. However, one student, Davon Moret, proves otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI really appreciate the conversations I\u2019ve had with Dr. Tostenson,\u201d&nbsp; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The draw of intellectually stimulating conversation gathered a small but participatory crowd to the Paisley Pear. The Philosophy Cafe provides a space where those present can ask difficult questions about the nature of such abstract concepts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The topic on the chopping block for debate was truth and tolerance. Tostenson opened with the cold questioning of \u2018what is truth?\u2019 eliciting many responses. Some equate truth to what you believe, others to objective knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the truth about truth is that there is no truth. Tostenson argues that this is oxymoronic and impossible to be true due to the inherent underlying meaning of the statement itself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think it [truth] is an indefinable idea,\u201d he said. \u201cBut that\u2019s not to say there is no discussion to be had around truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tostenson differentiates between variable and objective truths, and whether or not such a thing exists. According to him, variable truths are not truths at all but beliefs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Philosophy Cafe should not be confused for a formal debate, but an open forum for free discussion on complex topics. Nicole Feyerherm reiterated the lecture points well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere could be a truth out there that we are unaware of,\u201d she said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples of unknown truths are alien life in another galaxy or claims about what Julius Caesar ate for breakfast before his assassination.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Discussions of truth prove that philosophy can pair well with modernity. It is not an art limited to the ancients.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA lot of people talk about living in a post-truth age,\u201d Tostenson said. \u201cWhether or not something is real doesn\u2019t matter so much as what ideas it represents.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again, he resists this foregone conclusion of the meaning of truth. This time, he cites historian Timothy Snyder in his work, \u201cOn Tyranny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>&nbsp;\u201cTo abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true. Then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSomebody\u2019s gotta be wrong,\u201d Tostenson concluded. \u201cMaybe I should have called this [Philosophy Cafe] \u2018falsehood and tolerance.\u2019\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By ADIA REYNOLDS Photos by RORY MOORE Tiger Media Network The FHSU Philosophy Department hosted a Philosophy Cafe on Tuesday, this time discussing the concept&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":82469,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3397,3398,11],"tags":[15763,15829,15700,4828],"class_list":["post-82463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-area-news","category-campus-news","category-news","tag-adia-reynolds","tag-philosophy-cafe","tag-rory-moore","tag-truth"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Philosophy-Cafe-002.jpg?fit=1783%2C742&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=82463"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82471,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82463\/revisions\/82471"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/82469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=82463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=82463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=82463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}