Truth Through The Film, Hilary And Falsehood, By Mary M. Lich

It’s hard to pinpoint what truth really is. One can argue that is what an individual believes is right for oneself. Is truth a fact or opinion? Facts are evidence that lacks random bias and opinions are ones beliefs. This makes defining truth so complex. Defining truth was examined through many different lenses. Truth was looked at in the book, Philosophy through the Film, a reading from Plato, Chapter XXII, Truth and Falsehood, The film, Hilary and Jackie, and in class discussions and perception was a common thread.
In the book, Philosophy Through the Film, by Mary M. Litch, truth was explained in theories. The book looked at the Correspondence Theory of Truth, which states that truth must match up with a case because falsehood would not.
Two things are involved with truth; a statement or belief and reality or facts. When a statement corresponds with reality, a true statement is made. Cognitive Objective is the position that truth and falsity is determined by how it’s related to the world and if it accurately describes that world. Truth is also objective. The Pragmatist Theory of Truth is the idea that something is true when it is practical. Another theory of truth is a belief is true when holding it up to other beliefs; it does not contradict or correspond. Finally, the book goes over Cognitive Relativism, which asserts the relativity of truth and affirms all truth is relative. I was personally interested in the Pragmatist Theory. When something is practical, it appears to be more reliable which can lead one to believing its true. This theory can be seen in use, for example, at the doctors. If a doctor diagnosis an individual with an illness, that individual would believe it to be true, because a doctor studied this field. Therefor making the information practical and believable, which can justify it to be true.
The reading, Chapter XXII, Truth and Falsehood, looks at the difference between truth and falsehood. Knowledge by acquaintance is no truth or falsehood. Knowledge by description draws inference about things. This can lead one to ask, “Can one really know nothing?” Truth can be ones perception, which has been a common thread throughout the themes. I do believe truth can be determined by ones perception, which makes one challenge what is really true.
The film, Hilary and Jackie, was about two sisters perspective of their lives.
The philosophical importance isn’t found in the story, but in how the film is presented. A viewer maybe unaware of what is true and what is false, due to the different viewpoints. The scenes in the movie flash from Hilary’s perspective to Jackie’s perspective. The moves connect to ones cognitive perception. The viewers only know what they physically see. For example, we don’t know what was really true, such as their conversations. Hilary said to Jackie “The truth is that you’re not special.” How do we know that statement is true? What makes it true? How do we know Hilary said that? The theories of truth can help individuals decipher this. I really enjoyed watching Hilary and Jackie. The film made me realize how perception affects truth. One does not know what is true just from an individual stating it, because there can be many different perceptions. For example, if a friend informs one on a recent fight he or she had, he or she’s version of a story might not be the full truth, neither his or hers opponents view is fully truthful either. People have different perspectives of reality, which can affect truth. This was shown countless times in Hilary and
Jackie.
In class we discussed theories of truth. First we discussed truth goes through sensory perception, then cognitive perception, and then finally, logic perception. If all of these perceptions line up, they are believed to be true. Without truth, we have no knowledge. Knowledge is justified beliefs. Truth is a hard thought to declare, because no one knows how one truly feels. These perceptions were explained in the book, Philosophy through Film, perceptions in Hilary and Jackie, and the reading, Truth and Falsehood. I enjoyed learning the layers of what makes something true or false. I personally believe something is true once it goes through layers.
Examining truth through readings, visual media and class discussions made me question what is true and what is false. People can declare statements to be true, but what makes them true? Truth must go through different layers, or through theories. Truth can also be defined from the eye of the beholder. I personally always thought truth was facts or events I witnessed first hand, but from studying truth in our class, truth could be anything that is why it important to keep an open mind about statements and question them. This impacted me intellectually by not believing everything is true just because it is said to be true.
Truth was examined through readings, films and class discussions. The common thread in all the materials was theories of truth and perceptions of truth. Truth has layers and its difficult to pinpoint what is really true. This has taught me to keep an open mind about what others declare to be true and false.