Philosophy, Faith, Science and Reason
Schedule Wayne Holstad for Your Group
Order by credit card ~ Order by check or money order
© Alethos Press LLC
PO Box 600160
St. Paul, MN 55106
The Assault On Self-Evident Truths
"We hold these truths to be self-evident” is the
beginning point of the political philosophy of the Declaration of
Independence and the legal philosophy of American law. Self-evident truths
lay the foundation for the institutions necessary for government.
Self-evident truths, as religious truth, form the
foundation for the institution of the church. Self-evident truths, as legal
philosophy, form the foundation for the institutions of the state: the
legislative, executive and judicial branches of American government. Basic
definitions and assumptions that set the standards for the concept of
“rights” that are to be protected and the “justice” to be
administered—without self-evident truths—would continuously need to redefine
their purposes and standards. Constantly evolving standards and purposes
would necessarily find their origin with the new rulemaking authorities who
would write the rules as a product of their own will, not the people’s will.
Such a situation defines “tyranny.” In many ways, this situation describes
current American law and government.
The term self-evident truths, was well-accepted
and commonly used at the time of the Declaration of Independence. The term
derives from the Latin per se notum meaning that which is known
through the instrumentality or agency of one’s own efforts. St. John of
Damascus, the first theological encyclopedist, used and defined the term as
one of the first principles. Thomas Aquinas, in the Summa Theologica, his
comprehensive exposition on theology and knowledge, acknowledges God as the
source of “self-evident” knowledge. Aquinas’ proposition still survives as
the foundation of natural law theory. St. John of Damascus attributed
“self-evident truths” to Augustine. The concept of self-evident truths is
described by the Apostle Paul.
The whole idea of truth is best illustrated by
the verbal exchange between Jesus and Pontius Pilate. The most vigorous
offense against Christianity and orthodox doctrine is the allegation that
there is no definable truth. The question, “What is truth?” is often used to
definitively exclude the possibility that truth actually exists, that it is
a philosophical impossibility. Pilate asked Jesus the question, “What is
truth?” but Pilate did not wait for the answer. Either he assumed there was
no answer or he did not understand Jesus’ answer. Unfortunately, most people
never ask the question. Yet, the answer is as critically important in the
attempt to establish a foundation for law and government as it is in
establishing a personal worldview based on a rational, recognizable theory.
Christianity is premised upon knowable truth.
Christians believe that scriptures, as a written expression of God’s will
and truth, and the life of Jesus, as a demonstration of God’s will and
truth, have been intentionally communicated by an omniscient God to humans
who lack, but need understanding. Humans gain understanding by reason and
revelation, and understanding consists of truth, both understood intuitively
and accepted as fact demonstrably.