Chapter 6

Absolute truth

In any case, now that we are sure of at least one fact (that there is something), let us look at it a little; it turns out our certainty of it allows us to see that we are certain of other things as well.

Given that there's no point of view from which it can be false (for you) that there is something, it's also true that there's no point of view from which it can be false for anyone that there is something; because there would be that point of view, and anybody who tried to deny that there is something would know that there was something: the denial. Hence, we can draw the following conclusion:

Conclusion 2: it is certainly false that everything depends on your point of view; there is no point of view from which it can be true for anyone that there is nothing at all.

Well, that's a comfort. It saves us from asserting either (a) that "Everything depends on your point of view" doesn't depend on your point of view (and is true for everyone, whether they realize it or not), in which case not everything depends on your point of view (because this statement doesn't); or (b) that "Everything depends on your point of view" depends on the point of view you take, and is true only from that point of view, in which case, not everything depends on your point of view (because from other points of view there are things which don't depend on your point of view).

Yes, Virginia, there is absolute truth; there is at least one fact which is a fact for everyone, and which no one can honestly deny (because there is, after all, the "honest denial," and that's something).

But then what do we do with the people who say, "Well that's your opinion"?

The first thing you can do is test to see if they simply don't realize what they're saying by pointing out to them that they don't have to take your word for it that there is something; let them figure out for themselves whether they can actually believe (or have the "opinion") that there is nothing at all, not even the opinion or belief; and then whether they can figure out a way in which anyone can actually believe that there is nothing at all.

Of course, they won't be able to; in which case, you say that they share your "opinion" that there is something that's an absolute fact and doesn't depend on your point of view, because there's no point of view from which it isn't a fact (because there would be the point of view).

If they say, "Well, that's your opinion that my opinion is that there are absolute facts; but that's not my opinion," then you smile politely and walk away. There's really nothing else you can do, because even pointing out that they're saying as an absolute fact that there are no absolute facts won't make any difference, since these people just take opinions they're "comfortable" with, even if the opinions are their own opposites.