We are all truth-seekers. Some maybe more naturally than others, but we are all made to ask big questions and passionately seek for answers. The trouble is, finding the truth in any matter, let alone for the ultimate questions, is fraught with difficulty. Not the least of which is discouragement in this most necessary task due to the overwhelming nature of the search and an uncertainty of where to begin. If this is you, you are not alone. I have been there and wish someone had given me a similar guide years ago.
There is always time to start or renew the search for truth. Here are seven time-tested guidelines for us truth-seekers, young and old.
This is an absolutely essential first step. You can not truly seek the truth if you do not first know how to think clearly. Familiarize yourself with the laws of logic and common logical fallacies.
The laws of logic are discovered, not created. One law is the law of noncontradiction, which states that something cannot both be true and false in the same way at the same time. For example, the screen you are looking at cannot both exist and not exist. To state otherwise would break the law of noncontradiction and therefore be illogical.
There are also many logical fallacies, or errors in logical thinking. A common fallacy is a circular argument, which is when the conclusion restates the argument rather than actually proving it. For example, “This burger is delicious because it tastes really good.” The evidence that the burger “tastes really good” is simply a restatement of the claim that the sandwich is delicious. It means the same thing. To make this a logically coherent argument a reason must be given as evidence, such as the gooeyness of the cheese or the tenderness of the meat.
We all commit logical fallacies, but by understanding them we can work to limit them and graciously help others to avoid them. Sometimes though, you just have to let the child (or adult) enjoy his sandwich, fallacies and all.
We should critically evaluate all truth claims, especially those that make the biggest claims and have the greatest potential to affect our lives. By first growing in our understanding of logical thinking (step 1) we can then more effectively evaluate the veracity of any truth claim. This means many things. Simply increasing our awareness of the need to question assertions is a first step. When someone states something as a matter of fact, don’t just accept it as fact. Question it, ask for reasons to support the claim, and ask for definitions of any unclear terms. We know we should do this, but how often do we actually do it? Thinking is hard work and we’re all prone to take the easy path.
In addition, sharpening our critical thinking skills allows us to search out hidden assumptions in arguments, recognize logical fallacies, and even craft our own arguments. Above all, seeking the truth and critically evaluating truth claims means learning to ask good questions. Take this article for example. An active and critical reader might ask: Are there any unstated assumptions? (Yes, there is truth and it can be found. But now these aren’t unstated! You will have to do the work yourself next time.) Why did I choose these seven guidelines? Could they be arranged differently? Are there only seven steps or are important ones missing?
I don’t mean sitting there hunched for hours a day with your chin resting on your fist. While chiropractors would appreciate the extra business from such a habit being recommended, setting aside time to think includes especially setting aside time for study. Read lots. Read books—yes, those paper things you find in libraries. Read difficult things, especially things that you know are beyond your comprehension. Unless you are reading for leisure, which is strongly encouraged, if you are not thinking hard while you are reading you are doing it wrong. What other way is there to learn than to study things that will stretch your knowledge and current abilities?
Everyone has different skills and interests. That is part of the beauty of humanity: we are all unique and have specific ways we are best-suited to grow and contribute to society. But truth is everywhere, and we shouldn’t limit ourselves to any one field of study.
Search for truth in unexpected places, even in places where you have little natural interest. You may be surprised by what you find. I admit I’m not always the perfect model in this regard. But I’ve found that exposing myself to learning in new areas only increases my curiosity and hunger to learn more. And the more we learn, the more we are able to synthesize all discovered truth by putting the pieces together into a cohesive whole. We won’t do that perfectly of course, but casting the net far and wide offers the greatest chance of bringing in an exotic array of specimens to consider, admire, and add to our ever-expanding mosaic of reality. (Truth is always about reality whereas falsehood, or non-truth, is always about non-reality.)
Another incredibly important step is to get in the habit of reevaluating your own beliefs, especially when new evidence or arguments present themselves. This does not mean you should be tossed to and fro whenever a new idea passes by. But, when armed with the tools of logical thinking, you can take stock of new evidence, analyze the arguments, and if needed (if you are intellectually honest) you must be willing to exchange your mistaken belief for the truth. Just like dispeling a rotten meal that causes food poisoning may be unpleasant, in the end, working to dispel false ideas is always worth the temporary discomfort.
A helpful way to critically evaluate your own beliefs is to engage in conversation with those who hold opposing views. First, this can help to clarify your thoughts and strengthen you in your own beliefs. Second, it can help to clear up misunderstandings, both about your position and the opposing position. In addition, if you are convinced you are right in a certain important matter, it is an act of charity to try to share that truth with others. Lastly, at times a respectful disagreement will reveal fundamental flaws with your own beliefs. For a truth-seeker, this is great news! Finding out you are wrong about something is perhaps even more important than finding out you are right. Unhitching from the dead weight makes the rest of the journey that much lighter.
But there is a reason this isn’t the first step. You don’t want to get conned. Every position and ideology has its persuasive peddlers, many of whom may be well-intentioned, but even the well-intentioned can be flat out wrong. This happens all the time. (I know from experience, both on the giving and on the receiving end.) You should be much more concerned about clearly understanding the underlying arguments than about admiring someone’s rhetorical abilities or even sincerity. Rhetoric, or the art of persuasive speech, is not bad in itself, but it is never enough and an over-reliance upon it often proves only to obscure the truth. And even if a sincere inquirer asks you a pointed question which you cannot answer or poses an objection to your beliefs you have never encountered before, that does not automatically mean your position is undermined. Being willing to simply say “I don’t know” is sometimes the best and most honest thing you can do. But don’t just leave it at that. Do some research and circle back with your conversation partner. This is all part of the lifelong dance of truth-seeking: asking questions, being asked questions, and always being open to embrace wherever the evidence leads.
Lastly, don’t seek disagreement for the sake of disagreement, but seek others who are willing to follow the evidence of truth together. Oftentimes, others can greatly assist with this pursuit, those who agree with you, and perhaps especially those who don’t.
From Socrates (469-399 BC) to Saint Thomas Aquinas (AD 1225-1274) to René Descartes (AD 1596-1650), history is filled with influential and ground-breaking thinkers without which we would not be where we are today (for all of its glory and its woes!). I am only a beginner myself, but all I can do is recommend that we all seek out the wisdom of the intellectual giants from the past. The greatest ideas never grow stale.
You’ll quickly notice, however, that not all thinkers agree, not any one thinker was correct on all points, and intelligence alone does not protect against some truly awful ideas. For example, take Karl Marx’s political philosophy. Marxism has directly caused more human death and overall human suffering than any other philosophy in history. Marx’s influence is truly great in the most horrific way. Yet we can learn from studying all influential thinkers of the past, no matter the legacy they left behind.
When learning about the greatest ideas history has passed down to us, ensure you take time to understand both the thinkers and their ideas. Ask yourself questions: What influenced this thinker’s philosophy? Why precisely is this idea good or bad? Is it consistent with lived experience or is there a logical fallacy that undermines the idea? What corrections to the ideas are needed, if any? If I were to appropriate this idea, how would that change my life and way of thinking? Can the idea be applied to help solve a particular dilemma facing us today, or, perhaps, is this idea the cause of one of our society's most pressing issues? Sometimes the ideas most familiar to us pose the greatest risk of failing to be truly understood. So, as a starting point, you may want to search out the historical roots of your own intellectual tradition. What you find may embolden you in your beliefs or even shock you. History is full of surprises just waiting to be (re)discovered.
Maybe it’s just me, but after one of my children says a particularly amusing and seemingly unique statement, I sometimes wonder how many other children have said the exact same thing. None? One, but in a different language a thousand years ago? Two hundred in the past week? It’s a mild curiosity, but I would be nuts if I were to abandon my career and sell all that I had to seek out the answer to this quirky question. Even if I found the answer, what difference would it make?
As truth-seekers, we must prioritize seeking answers to the most important questions. That does not mean we should not entertain silly questions or even pursue personal intellectual interests with vigor. Our lives are often enriched by such endeavors. However, there are some unavoidable and ultimate questions that we must prioritize above all else. Finding answers to these questions unlocks the very essence of who we are, empowers how we live, and determines how (and whether) we will exist after our short lives have ended.
The profundity and difficulty of these questions should not deter us but propel us to search with absolutely all we have. If you have to abandon your career and sell all you have to find these answers—do it.
It seems fitting to conclude with some wisdom from one of the saints, who are the greatest truth-seekers. For the saints not only sought the truth, but even when they found what they were seeking, they passionately sought to know and love the Truth evermore.
In an encyclical entitled The Splendor of Truth, Pope John Paul II wrote “Although each individual has a right to be respected in his own journey in search of the truth, there exists a prior obligation, and a grave one at that, to seek the truth and to adhere to it once it is known” (Veritatas splendor, 34).
