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"

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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"

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We find ourselves grappling with the concept of the 'bare truth' and whether it is, in fact, a tautology. While it may be true that truth always necessitates the laying bare of something before us, we must acknowledge that this metaphor adds nothing substantial to our understanding of truth. In fact, it serves to project assumptions and evaluations onto the concept, further complicating its meaning. This metaphor is closely intertwined with the interpretation of clothing, for clothing can be seen as both a garment and a disguise. In opposition to them, we have nudity, which exposes deception, obscenity, and mystery. Just as man's cultural history is intrinsically linked to his clothing, truth can also cloak itself within culture, veiling its essence. Man, being a clothed being, often chooses to conceal his true nature behind this cultural facade. But must truth, in its natural openness and intrusive nature, be intolerable to a clothed being? Perhaps an aphorism from Franz Werfel's Theologumena will help shed light on my point: 'The naked truth, 'nuda veritas', is the lecherous bride of the barbarian.' Cultures emerge precisely when the need to hide something becomes apparent - a recognition of original sin, if you will. Adam's fig leaf serves as the first symbol of culture. However, the regression into barbarism begins when man once again unveils the hidden, as demonstrated by the field of psychology.

Considering our tradition's ambiguous attitude towards truth when viewed through the lens of metaphor, it becomes evident that skepticism has amassed an arsenal of doubt and despair. We may be inclined to reject the theoretical claim of truth's attainability in favor of the satisfaction derived from denying its possibility altogether. But whether truth, as a hypothetical pursuit, can truly bring about man's happiness remains a question without a definitive answer. This is a question that has, throughout history, found expression solely through metaphors, leading us into the boundless realm of uncertainty. Reflecting on Hans Blumenberg's "Paradigms to a Metaphorology," we can discern the intricacies of truth, understanding that it defies easy categorization or systematic analysis. In its enigmatic nature, truth remains a subject that beckons us to think deeply and philosophically.