Chapter 2

Lesson 1: Understanding Truth and Opinion

Difference between opinion and truth

What is opinion?

- is a belief, impression or judgment about something by not necessarily based on fact.

- It prevails personal view of a person.

What is truth?

- It is something that has been proven by facts or sincerity.

- In science, truth is based on facts-as something that is observable

- In philosophy, truth is considered as a kind of quality and value.

Every day in your life, you have encountered a lot of information that you have heard from your
parents, friends, members of the community or even in social media like Facebook or news from
the television and radio. Some information may be helpful to you, but some may mislead you or
may even be utterly false. These kinds of information can either give positive or negative impact
on your life. For instance, you have a neighbor who wants to lose weight until she saw an
advertisement from the television that there is an affordable and effective “slimming pill”. Your
neighbor is convinced by the advertisement and took an order then tried and hoping to be
physically fit. But then she noticed that there has no effect to her, and having a feeling of fear if
it can harm other internal organ in her body. Based on your neighbor’s experienced, the
information that you have heard or have watched from the news or the social media especially
on products, may tell you the true or may tell you the false. Every day you are confronted with
announcements, news, claim, from your peer, friends, family members, the government and
media. How would you know if they are telling the truth? Have you experienced the same?

Why truth is important?

Truth is important to clarify knowledge, since it is through knowing that we are able to determine
what is true, while talking about Knowledge, it is the clear awareness and understanding of
anything that surrounds you. It is a product of questions that allow for clear answers provided by
facts. Our knowledge is comprised of ideas and beliefs that we know to be true.

Take for instance, “No bird have no wings”. This statement simply means that we know what an
observable is or evident in a real world- that is based on reality so this is proposition and this
statement is considered as facts. Fact is statements which are observable to be real or truthful.
We all know and see that all the birds have wings.
There are also statements that need to have further examination to establish whether it is true
or false. For instance; “my man is the best and the smartest” .This statement is not evidently or
immediately known to be true, it needs further investigation or examination to see that this
statement is true or false. This statement is opinion. Opinion can be proven by verification and
experimentation in order to find that the statement is true or false.

How do you know if something is true?

You assumed that everything you know about in this world is true, through your senses and
beliefs. But as philosophers, you do not assumed that every statement is true. You need to
analyze or investigate or have own investigation to better understand the means by which you
gain knowledge and determine the truth about everything. Doubt drives your desires to discover
the truth. There should be sufficient reasons and evidences taken to prove that it is true.

Ways on Determining Truth

1. A belief is true if it can be justified or proven through the use of one’s senses.

Let’s have a sample statement:

A. Ana is the only beautiful classmate that I have.

Prove that Ana is beautiful by writing it in one sentence below.

__________________________________________________________

B. I am a Filipino.

How will you prove that you are a Filipino? Answer that in just one sentence.

__________________________________________________________

Are you now convinced that you call yourself a Filipino Citizen? If not, you can use other mean.

2. A belief or statement is true if it is based on facts.

This is another basis of determining truth. If you think that there are still doubts in your mind,
you can do an investigation to some other experts or research to fully seek the truth. You can try
the following:

1. Look for your birth certificate. This is an official document to prove that you are really a
Filipino Citizen.

2. Ask your biological parents and other relatives. This is to prove that they are the witnesses
that you are really a Filipino Citizen..

3. Getting a consensus or having people agree on a common belief.

This is getting everyone to agree on something with nobody opposing or against on that
statement. Based on the previous example, by looking at your birth certificate, since it is an
official document that is issued by the institution of the government it shows factual information,
the entries it bears are truthful. And if your biological parents and relatives agreeing that you are
truly a Filipino Citizen, this is way in determining what is true.

4. Statements can also be true through actions.

For instance, your best-friend tells you that he/she knows how to cook a menudo. Do you
believe his/her statement instantly? Or might you ask him/her to perform the cooking. Then let
you taste the menudo if the taste is delicious or not. If the taste of the menudo is delicious, then
that would be the time that you believe him/her that he/she really knows how to cook menudo.

Lesson 2. Distinguishing Truth from Opinion

You can have now an idea how philosophizing recognizes truth, let us applies it in a various
situations in your life. Everything you have encountered could either be an opinion or truth. But
what distinguishes one from the other? Let us take a look at the following statements .and
observe the difference between truth and opinion.

Truth Opinion
1. The minimum fare for motorela from 1. Fare is increasing because the driver wants
Balbagon, Mambajao to Poblacion,Mambajao to have a high income
public market is 9.00Php
2. Frederick Navarro arrived in Cagayan de 2. Frederick Navarro arrived in Cagayan de
Oro at 01:05pm. Oro in the afternoon, he is supposed to arrive
in Cagayan de Oro in the morning but because
he feel lazy to wake up early and feel bored to
travel alone.

Analyzing closely the statements, it is observable that statements in the first column are truth
because they contain ideas or information which are easily verifiable, while statements in the
second column are opinions since they need further facts which will provide conclusion and
beliefs in the given situation.

Conclusion is a statement based on a certain fact. Beliefs are statements that express
convictions that are not easily and clearly explained by facts. For example, if your mother states
that “God created everything that is present in this entire world”, proving that this statement is
considered as truth, you need other person’s views and experiences. Explanations are
statements claiming to be true and provide reasons to make the statements true.
Lesson 3. Difference between Fallacy and Bias

Arguments are series of statements that provide explanations to convince the listener or a
reader that the opinion is truthful.

Types of Arguments

1. Fallacy or Fake argument (maling pangangatuwiran)– are group of statements that appear
to be arguments to support the conclusion.

Example:

There is no hope in the Philippine government, because it is tropical country.

What makes the statement fallacious? It is fallacious because climate has nothing to do with the
hope of Philippine government.

2. Bias – refers tendencies or influences which affect the views of the people.

When looking at an opinion you must be aware of bias so that you can objectively and critically
examined points of view.

Fallacy Characteristics Example

Argumentum Ad hominem (Argument against the “Do not listen to his opinion he
Person) Attacking the person is fool.”
presenting the argument
instead of the argument itself
Argumentum ad Baculum (Appeal to Force) Using the “If this peace agreement will
Appeal to force threat of force or an not be signed by the
undesirable event to advance government, then we will have
an argument no recourse but go to war.”
Argumentum ad (Appeal to Emotion) It is by “Please, let me in. I was just
Misericordiam using emotions such as pity or late because I have to attend
sympathy, one might be able to my son who is sick.”
to convince the person.
Argumentum ad Populum Appeal to Popular or “Every boy your age already
Bandwagon) The idea is has a girlfriend, you should go
presented as acceptable find one!”
because a lot of people
accept it

Bias Characteristics Example

Correspondence bias or You judge a person’s “These rebels who fought
attribute effect personality based on the against the government are all
actions, and never mind the inconsiderate murderers!”
extrinsic (panlabas na
dahilan) factor.
Confirmation bias Tendency to look for a readily “How can I accept his view
accept information which fits that there is no God? I am
 one’s own beliefs or views a Christian!”
that go against it
Framing Do not only settled in one “In motorcycle accident
issue of the problem and then yesterday, it is altogether a
you do not mind the other fault of the driver for reckless
aspects. Judging an incidence driving.”
without looking at the other
side.
Hindsight The phenomena which occur “Let us take an example
has a pattern and can be on the Magellan’s assault on
predicted, such is usually Mactan, his defeat was just
based in historical evidence. due to his looking Filipinos as
people of no knowledge.”

An individual cannot live his or her life just agreeing with everybody he or she meets. A
critical mind aided by a philosophy can help us from our own personal point of view that can
guide us in making decisions and actions when faced with a problem. Each individual’s point of
view is unique but it should be based on sound and reasonable ideas and views. We would be
able to come up with ideas which are truthful and can be accepted universally through the study
Philosophy. Let us imagine several individuals reacting to news on the television and radio
about the SAME SEX MARRIAGE that is being proposed in the congress. Let’s analyze the
opinions of these individuals.

Father Nael: (Priest)

It’s not allowed to marry with the same sex. Married is for a man and a woman. This is a sacred
ceremony for a couple that promise and exchange vows before the Lord. They disobeyed the
commandments of the Lord. God created man for woman.

Mrs. Casiana: (Member in the society)

It is awkward to hear that same sexes were married. How could they produce children? Even
though they loved each other, but for me it is a mistake.

Mr. Serge: (Gay)

I agree on this proposal, in a sense that I could feel secured and have peace of mind. And I
would also feel full of happiness because my love one and I will live together in a legal way.

Ms. Emyang: (Lesbian)

It is alright for me. There’s no such mistake of having an affair with same sex, because we
cannot resist that love that we felt, whatever gender it is, as long as you live with her with
happiness and feel comfortable of being companion, well it’s good. So much good if you both
live in a legal way or have married legally.
Ms. Jennifer: (Parent of a gay)

If that proposal would be a law, I would just let my son-gay to marry a man if he thinks that a
man is meant for him. As long as they know their limitations and overcome the consequences in
their relationship. I would agree just for him to be happy.