What is subjective truth?

Answer

Subjective truth, often confused with relative truth, is a philosophical concept commonly associated with the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855). Kierkegaard posited that religious truth is personal rather than impersonal; it defines who we are, not what we possess. While Kierkegaard recognized objective truth as external, he viewed subjective truth as internal.

The essence of this concept lies in the idea that while objective truths hold significance, subjective truth can be even more vital to an individual as it pertains to how one engages with and embraces those objective truths. Kierkegaard contended that spiritual truth cannot merely be acknowledged; it must be embraced—it is not just about agreement, but inner dedication. Religious truth is discovered through a personal encounter with God and the voluntary acceptance of His truth, not solely through an intellectual understanding. Essentially, an individual internally aligns themselves with the truth.

Kierkegaard’s notion of subjective truth is particularly relevant in today’s post-truth era, where objective facts are considered less influential in shaping public opinion compared to appeals to emotion and personal convictions. For many contemporary individuals, emotions and preferences hold more weight than facts and truth. Their internal convictions take precedence over external facts, which they resist conforming to.

In a post-truth culture, an objective fact may be acknowledged as “true,” but due to conflicts with personal preferences or political motives, it may be undermined in some manner. Some individuals choose to disregard facts, distort the truth, or propagate falsehoods to advance their personal agendas. This approach contradicts Kierkegaard’s concept of subjective truth, which does not disregard objective reality in favor of personal preferences and agendas.

Having said that, one of Kierkegaard’sOne flaw in his framework is the belief that there can exist a gap between objective and subjective truth. He argued that an individual’s faith may leave them in a state of objective uncertainty, and as a result, faith necessitates a transition from disbelief to belief.

Nevertheless, a proper comprehension of the differentiation between faith “that” something is true and faith “in” something reveals that the necessary leap is not a blind leap, but rather a step into enlightenment. The objective or “external” evidence for God provides the foundation required to believe that God exists, which then leads to subjective or “internal” truths that one embraces in a trusting manner. Both objective and subjective truths are supported in the Bible and elucidated in Hebrews: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is [faith “that”—objective] and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him [faith “in”—subjective]” «But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. », (Hebrews 11:6).