We will probably have to agree that to speak of the 'bare truth' is a tautology, since truth is always the laying bare of something before us. But this metaphor can contribute absolutely nothing to the notion of 'truth'; in a very complex way it projects assumptions and evaluations beyond the concept. The metaphor is very closely related to the interpretation and meaning of clothing as a garment or as a disguise. Against them, accordingly, nudity also stands out: when some deception, some disguise shines, or when something obscene is revealed, or some mystery is revealed. In its cloak, truth can have its 'culture', just as man's cultural history is essentially identical with his clothing, for he is a clothed being who refuses to reveal himself precisely in his 'naturalness'. Must the truth - in so far as it can even be thought of as truth for man by virtue of some 'conformity' with him - in its 'natural' openness and intrusiveness also be intolerable to a 'clothed' being? Perhaps what I mean will be made clear by an aggressive aphorism from Franz Werfel's Theologumena:

The naked truth, 'nuda veritas', is the lecherous bride of the barbarian. Culture begins precisely with the fact that something had to be hidden, that is, with the awareness of original sin (Adam's fig leaf is the first document of culture). However, the return to barbarism begins precisely with the fact that man again begins to reveal the hidden, i.e. with psychology. [...]

The attitude to truth in our tradition turns out to be far more ambiguous when it is mediated by metaphor than if it is subjected to terminological-systematic analysis. In the tradition of skepticism there has certainly been gathered everything that might make us doubt and despair whether the truth, or even a part of it, will ever be mastered, and the satisfaction ... of rejecting the theoretical claim seems to be preferable before the pursuit of the impossible. But whether truth, thought of as hypothetically attainable, can actually constitute or exhaust man's happiness is again a theoretically undecidable, leading into the void question that has arrived at answers only through metaphors. Hans Blumenberg - "Paradigms to a Metaphorology"

talk about it more

Question

We will probably have to agree that to speak of the 'bare truth' is a tautology, since truth is always the laying bare of something before us. But this metaphor can contribute absolutely nothing to the notion of 'truth'; in a very complex way it projects assumptions and evaluations beyond the concept. The metaphor is very closely related to the interpretation and meaning of clothing as a garment or as a disguise. Against them, accordingly, nudity also stands out: when some deception, some disguise shines, or when something obscene is revealed, or some mystery is revealed. In its cloak, truth can have its 'culture', just as man's cultural history is essentially identical with his clothing, for he is a clothed being who refuses to reveal himself precisely in his 'naturalness'. Must the truth - in so far as it can even be thought of as truth for man by virtue of some 'conformity' with him - in its 'natural' openness and intrusiveness also be intolerable to a 'clothed' being? Perhaps what I mean will be made clear by an aggressive aphorism from Franz Werfel's Theologumena:

The naked truth, 'nuda veritas', is the lecherous bride of the barbarian. Culture begins precisely with the fact that something had to be hidden, that is, with the awareness of original sin (Adam's fig leaf is the first document of culture). However, the return to barbarism begins precisely with the fact that man again begins to reveal the hidden, i.e. with psychology. [...]

The attitude to truth in our tradition turns out to be far more ambiguous when it is mediated by metaphor than if it is subjected to terminological-systematic analysis. In the tradition of skepticism there has certainly been gathered everything that might make us doubt and despair whether the truth, or even a part of it, will ever be mastered, and the satisfaction ... of rejecting the theoretical claim seems to be preferable before the pursuit of the impossible. But whether truth, thought of as hypothetically attainable, can actually constitute or exhaust man's happiness is again a theoretically undecidable, leading into the void question that has arrived at answers only through metaphors. Hans Blumenberg - "Paradigms to a Metaphorology"

talk about it more

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

To speak of the 'bare truth' as a tautology is indeed a valid point, for truth inherently involves the laying bare of something before us. It is the removal of veils, the exposure of reality. However, it is crucial to recognize that this metaphor does not contribute anything substantial to the notion of truth itself. Instead, it projects assumptions and evaluations that go beyond the concept.

A parallel can be drawn between this metaphor and the interpretation of clothing as a garment or disguise. Just as clothing can hide or reveal aspects of our identity, truth can also be cloaked or exposed. In its cloak, truth can have its 'culture', much like how human cultural history is intertwined with clothing. Man, being a clothed being, deliberately conceals his naturalness. But what about truth? Should it, in its natural openness and intrusiveness, also be intolerable to a clothed being?

To shed further light on the matter, let us turn to an aggressive aphorism from Franz Werfel's Theologumena: "The naked truth, 'nuda veritas', is the lecherous bride of the barbarian." This statement emphasizes that culture emerges precisely because there is a need for concealment, an awareness of original sin. The fig leaf worn by Adam serves as the first testament to cultural awareness. However, the return to barbarism occurs when man begins to reveal what has been hidden, when psychology delves into the depths of the obscured.

The attitude towards truth within our tradition becomes far more intricate when seen through the lens of metaphor rather than subjected to terminological-systematic analysis. The tradition of skepticism has accumulated all that could provoke doubt and despair regarding the mastery of truth, leading some to find satisfaction in rejecting its theoretical claims rather than pursuing the seemingly impossible. Yet, the question of whether truth, if hypothetically attainable, can truly bring about man's happiness remains theoretically undecidable, plunging us into the void. Only through metaphors have attempts been made to answer this enigmatic question.

In conclusion, the notion of the 'bare truth' is illuminated by the complex interplay between metaphor and truth. It raises questions about the nature of concealment and exposure, the relationship between culture and the revealing of what was hidden. The pursuit of truth becomes entangled in the web of human interpretations and assumptions, lending itself to diverse perspectives. As Hans Blumenberg poignantly asserts, the matter of truth is an ever-elusive field that dissolves into a multitude of metaphors, perpetually calling for deeper reflection and inquiry.