I Hear People Speaking Of 'the Big Picture' As If It Were Complete And Finite...

Question: I hear people speaking of 'the big picture' as if it were complete and finite, but the extent to which we perceive context is, as I understand it, always relative. No matter how much I am able to see, there is more that my limited perspective can not see. Doesn't this make the notion that we can choose to 'tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth' rather absurd? Kerry

Answer (1) Yes, it does! Next question...?

One can do one's best though, by offering 'the truth as best and completely as I presently understand it'. It's unfortunate that we have allowed our society to operate on the absurdly stressful basis of 'Ignorance is no defense'. No person can possibly, by any reasonable means, ever hope to know everything.

There are also those who argue that there can be, by definition, only one truth. There is a point there somewhere... but often they are merely describing self-selected aspects of a larger picture, or mistaking opinion for truth, both of which errors are readily apparent to others who are embracing a broader vista.

Most of us, with increasing maturity, recognise that truth has a relativistic element and depends (somewhat) on the vantage point - the perspective - of the perceiver, as well as the information available to their senses and sensibilities. I am sure that you can think of things which, in your youth, you held to be absolutely true, but which now, from your farther/wider/more informed and integrated perspective, appear quite misguided. I trust that this process will continue for all of us, lifelong. Along the way we can only do our best, which means applying great discipline to recognising and articulating what we currently understand to be 'true', whilst leaving all the doors wide open for other people, and our own continuing experience, to fine-tune these 'truths'.

Answer provided by Stephanie Thompson, Psychologist

Answer (2) The "truth" is all about boundaries. There are some things that one needs to keep to oneself and some things that one can share. However, remember that if two people are not reasonably truthful with each other, no matter how hard the truth may be to hear, there can be no trust.

Trust is the basis of a good friendship and all intimate relationships. It helps in the development of any relationship.

Absolute truthfulness is an ideal and ideals are not capable of being met, hence involve failure. Therefore, "telling the truth and nothing but the truth" in all situations could be described as absurd.

Answer provided by Susan Alldred-Lugton, Psychologist