Comments on: A relativist takes the witness stand http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2008/11/13/a-relativist-takes-the-witness-stand/ The blog of John D. Cook Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:45:27 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2008/11/13/a-relativist-takes-the-witness-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-9478 John Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:39:58 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=872#comment-9478 I agree that someone can only tell the truth as they see it and as well as they remember it. What I object to is people saying "that's not true for me" when they merely mean "I don't like that" or "that doesn't <i>work</i> for me," whatever that means. It's one thing to humbly say that these are the partial facts as far as I know and that I may be mistaken. It's quite another to say that no objective reality exists. I agree that someone can only tell the truth as they see it and as well as they remember it. What I object to is people saying “that’s not true for me” when they merely mean “I don’t like that” or “that doesn’t work for me,” whatever that means. It’s one thing to humbly say that these are the partial facts as far as I know and that I may be mistaken. It’s quite another to say that no objective reality exists.

]]> By: Barry Leiba http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2008/11/13/a-relativist-takes-the-witness-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-9349 Barry Leiba Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:43:41 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=872#comment-9349 It wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference to me. For one thing, I'm well aware that the "truth" that anyone tells is the truth as she sees it — it's all relative. Watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042876/" rel="nofollow">Rashomon</a> for a clear vision of this. I might word the oath as "the truth as I see it, and as best I remember it", but either way it's clear that no "witness" gives any form of objective "truth". For another thing, I have no illusion that an "oath" will keep someone from lying or otherwise misleading the court if that's what she's inclined to do. See these blog entries for more on my thoughts about swearing oaths and using eyewitness testimony: <a href="http://staringatemptypages.blogspot.com/2006/12/i-swear.html" rel="nofollow">I swear...</a> <a href="http://staringatemptypages.blogspot.com/2007/10/twelve-angry-men.html" rel="nofollow">Twelve angry men</a> It wouldn’t make the slightest bit of difference to me. For one thing, I’m well aware that the “truth” that anyone tells is the truth as she sees it — it’s all relative. Watch Rashomon for a clear vision of this. I might word the oath as “the truth as I see it, and as best I remember it”, but either way it’s clear that no “witness” gives any form of objective “truth”.

For another thing, I have no illusion that an “oath” will keep someone from lying or otherwise misleading the court if that’s what she’s inclined to do.

See these blog entries for more on my thoughts about swearing oaths and using eyewitness testimony:
I swear…
Twelve angry men

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