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According to the passage, what does the author find problematic about the statement, "Truth is single and indivisible"?

a. The statement contradicts scientific principles.

b. It assumes an unscientific stance.

c. Truth is defined by empirical evidence.

d. Models and theories represent absolute truth.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The author finds the statement "Truth is single and indivisible" to be problematic because it oversimplifies the complex nature of truth and fails to account for the different perspectives and criteria for truth that vary among communities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author finds the statement "Truth is single and indivisible" problematic because it oversimplifies the concept of truth and dismisses the complexity and variability found in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding truth. The passage suggests that truth might not be a fixed, universally applicable entity, referring to philosophical debates that encompass relativist, empirical, and pragmatic perspectives. The problem arises when the statement is placed against the realities of multiple truths held by different societies, the principles of science, and the existence of empirical evidence that can contradict absolute statements.

This is further complicated by the observation that, while empirical claims about the physical world are supported by evidence and may seem to point towards a single truth, philosophical perspectives like pragmatism and conceptual relativism introduce the notion that truth can vary based on different communities' criteria for justification or coherence among beliefs.

The critique of the statement can be associated with the problems listed towards the end of the passage, such as the possibility of justified beliefs being untrue, the challenge of explaining errors and falsehoods, and the tendency of such a statement to make truth seem relative rather than objective or absolute.

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