“That’s Your Truth”: The Phrase That Kills Every Discussion
I’m sure each of you has, at some point, encountered a highly intelligent person shutting down a discussion with the phrase, “That’s your truth.” I find this expression incredibly frustrating.
Don’t get me wrong—I value the diversity of perspectives in a society. Many of the greatest revolutions in human history were sparked by questioning ideas once considered unquestionable. Skepticism, in this sense, is a powerful force for progress.
However, I sometimes feel that modern skepticism is different from the kind that once drove scientific and social advancements.
The phrase “That’s your truth” often seems less like an invitation to debate and more like a rhetorical trick—a way to evade scrutiny and avoid subjecting certain opinions to the test of facts.
Saying “this is your truth” transforms a fact—or what is presented as a fact, something that should leave no room for disagreement—into a mere opinion, a subjective interpretation of reality. Worse, it shuts down any meaningful discussion about facts.
Those who argue that everyone has their own truth ultimately reject the very notion of a shared definition of fact or evidence—and, by extension, the possibility of an honest discussion about reality. Without common ground, there can be no collaboration, leaving room for nothing but conflict.
If reality imposes no limits on our actions and everything is reduced to opinion, then every human relationship becomes a power struggle. Perhaps this is why so many of these brilliant individuals seem so profoundly unhappy.
This attitude, masquerading as skepticism, often conceals a deep aversion to dialogue and a refusal to engage in an honest exchange of ideas. It enables people to dismiss facts and ignore reality altogether—a habit that can be dangerously shortsighted.
For instance, it is a fact that water is highly effective in extinguishing fires. If, in a debate, I state this, and my interlocutor responds that it is merely my truth, they likely do so not because they possess an alternative truth, but because they have no intention of engaging with the subject of fire prevention. Had this fact been properly considered, perhaps it could have made a difference in California.
What makes me most skeptical about this brand of modern skepticism, however, is that those who insist there are many truths—and therefore none are often the same people who are utterly convinced they know exactly what is right and wrong, what can and cannot be said, and even what can and cannot be thought.
Then again, perhaps I’m mistaken. Maybe these people aren’t quite as intelligent as they seem.
This is an advertisement page, so I’ll end by reminding you:
"Zombies of Marx – The Return of Practical Reason" is available for purchase on all Amazon marketplaces in both English and Italian.
Don’t get me wrong—I value the diversity of perspectives in a society. Many of the greatest revolutions in human history were sparked by questioning ideas once considered unquestionable. Skepticism, in this sense, is a powerful force for progress.
However, I sometimes feel that modern skepticism is different from the kind that once drove scientific and social advancements.
The phrase “That’s your truth” often seems less like an invitation to debate and more like a rhetorical trick—a way to evade scrutiny and avoid subjecting certain opinions to the test of facts.
Saying “this is your truth” transforms a fact—or what is presented as a fact, something that should leave no room for disagreement—into a mere opinion, a subjective interpretation of reality. Worse, it shuts down any meaningful discussion about facts.
Those who argue that everyone has their own truth ultimately reject the very notion of a shared definition of fact or evidence—and, by extension, the possibility of an honest discussion about reality. Without common ground, there can be no collaboration, leaving room for nothing but conflict.
If reality imposes no limits on our actions and everything is reduced to opinion, then every human relationship becomes a power struggle. Perhaps this is why so many of these brilliant individuals seem so profoundly unhappy.
This attitude, masquerading as skepticism, often conceals a deep aversion to dialogue and a refusal to engage in an honest exchange of ideas. It enables people to dismiss facts and ignore reality altogether—a habit that can be dangerously shortsighted.
For instance, it is a fact that water is highly effective in extinguishing fires. If, in a debate, I state this, and my interlocutor responds that it is merely my truth, they likely do so not because they possess an alternative truth, but because they have no intention of engaging with the subject of fire prevention. Had this fact been properly considered, perhaps it could have made a difference in California.
What makes me most skeptical about this brand of modern skepticism, however, is that those who insist there are many truths—and therefore none are often the same people who are utterly convinced they know exactly what is right and wrong, what can and cannot be said, and even what can and cannot be thought.
Then again, perhaps I’m mistaken. Maybe these people aren’t quite as intelligent as they seem.
This is an advertisement page, so I’ll end by reminding you:
"Zombies of Marx – The Return of Practical Reason" is available for purchase on all Amazon marketplaces in both English and Italian.
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