Handling the four domains of truth

In this meta review we take a look at Handling Truth: Navigating the Riptides of Rhetoric, Religion, Reason, and Research in which retired professor of experimental psychology, William M. Gardner explores what he has identified as the four domains of truth – setting out to provide a succinct summary of the liberal arts educational experience, direct the reader to a rewarding path of real understanding of law and politics, religion, philosophy, science, and self.

“Why does someone write about truth? There are many reasons, but in my case the primary motivator was shouting heads on cable television. Their influence was growing as their assertions became more absurd. It was clear that we needed to save truth from the information circus made possible by television and the Internet.

“Traditional philosophers explain truth in such transcendent terms that it is not accessible to most of us, while postmodernists seem to reject the term altogether. What was needed was a practical guide to truth, a guide to the truths for which we, as cultures and as individuals, search—and to the sources where we find them.  After years of thinking and writing, and debate among friends, the book is ready,” professor Gardner says in a pre-launch note on his personal website.

In his book of just shy of 200 pages Gardner, in easily digestible language, argues that reconciling the four domains of truth is virtually impossible when one is debating, another proselytising, a third demanding logical proofs, and a fourth accepting only replicated research findings.

This lack of convergence necessitates accommodating those differences if peace and harmony are to prevail. Gardner shows why democracies must impose the methods of rhetoric, logic, and research, while allowing freedom of, but not domination by, the authoritarian truths of religious and ideological faiths.

A publisher’s note claims that the book develops the reader's mastery of truth, with skills for identifying the four domains of truth, their unique strengths and weaknesses, and the authorities who govern them. It includes techniques for classifying and critiquing assertions of truth, for polishing your debate skills, crafting logical arguments, and understanding research findings. It promises that Handling Truth “will start you on a rewarding path to real understanding of law and politics, religion, philosophy, science, and yourself.”

What others say

• Prof. JP van Niekerk, Managing Editor, South African Medical Journal:  “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my country (South Africa) the health services were held to ransom by the Aids denialist stance…. How did apparently intelligent leaders come to these conclusions? Gardner provides insights….”
• Donald G. Gregory, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. of Sociology, Reinhardt College, Georgia, US: “Our world would be better served if all college freshmen had to read Handling Truth. In a postmodern world strength arises from knowledge and understanding, and Gardner offers a concise understanding of these complex relationships.”
• Bethany Cox for the Midwest Book Review; The Philosophy Shelf: The truth sometimes isn’t so easy to cope with. “Handling Truth: Navigating the Riptides of Rhetoric, Religion, Reason, and Research” is a philosophical guide to dealing with hunting for truth and best dealing with and using it to the fullest when pursuing it. From breaking down truth into its categories, digesting each, “Handling Truth” is a scholarly and much recommended philosophical work for those who seek truth professionally, or of their own volition.”–
• James J. Krider on Amazon, US: “Believing truth is truth, we know it when we see it, and those disagreeing must be either evil or irrational, people today are angry that the country can't agree on the nature of our problems or their solutions. William Gardner's fascinating "Handling Truth" gives us an understandable and well-written explanation of why this is inevitable. Identifying the four differing domains of truth-seeking found in rhetoric, religion, logic, and research, he shows how each arrives at and defends its version of reality.”

Handling Truth: Navigating the Riptides of Rhetoric, Religion, Reason, and Research is available in South Africa from Red Pepper Books at R170.