"A Newman Approach to the Truth within Election 2000"

During His Passion, in a dialogue with Pilate, Jesus told him, "Every one who loves the truth listens to My voice." Pilate remarked, "What is Truth?'  As November 7th, 2000 nears, this question and a related one, "How can I know the truth?" become urgent.

John Henry Newman devoted a major portion of his life to a study of the human ability to arrive at truth.  He gave an account of his thinking and of his resulting convictions in An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent .

As we listened to the debates and continue to be exposed to political commercials we may be tempted to wonder if there is any objective truth within election 2000.  Newman insists that indeed there is objective truth.  In fact he explains that all that exists is true, that the truth is attainable, but that there is no objective test of the truth about any real existing thing.  The truth about an existing apple cannot be written down in a few well chosen postulates or axioms.  What exists is far too complex to be encompassed in words.  This does not mean, however, that we cannot know something about an apple, or even something about an issue in Election 2000.

Consider the statements:  "A vote for Bush is a vote for Life." ;   "A vote for Gore is a vote for Prosperity."  If  individuals examine these statements, some may become convinced of their truth on the basis of personal, subjective experiences and reasoning.  For those individuals, the decision may appear to require a choice between life and prosperity. 

Others may not agree with either statement.  They may see in the term "Life", life of the unborn, life of the vulnerable in our country and in the world, life which may be cut short by easy access to guns, life which may become too burdensome because of poverty or prejudice.  They may suggest a revision of the first statement to read: "A vote for Bush is a vote for Presidential approval of legal limits on late term abortions which are not required for the health of the mother."   Bush has not officially promised any more than this.  (And where is the Solomon who will resolve the resulting legal battles fairly?)  

Some may see in the term "Prosperity" universal prosperity, which may seem out of reach; prosperity tied to large tax credits; prosperity depending on improved education, and so on.  Further, the ability of a President to achieve   prosperity without the cooperation of congress may  be questioned.  A safer revision of the Gore statement might be "A vote for Gore implies administrative support for middle class prosperity, and educational programs aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty."

Even the revised statements may appear too weak, too broad, or too biased.  But this exercise demonstrates several of Newman's claims regarding the human struggle to move from opinion to conviction.  Once we are convinced of the challenges of arriving at truth in political reality, we see the wisdom of Newman's recommendations in the Grammar.  He suggests we must use our own illative sense, i.e. our own best reasoning ability, and the rules of logic, as far as they will take us, in view of our own experiences.  Further, he urges participation in human controversy, with help from experts whom we can trust.  With all of this if we humbly ask for grace to hear the voice of Christ, as He speaks to us through these human means, as well as through our conscience and His Spirit within us, He Who is the Truth will not disappoint us. 

Note: Click on the link in the second paragraph to access the complete text of the Essay.

The links below access some samples of the essay of special interest in this context. 

For further information, or to contact the author, Sister Teresemarie McCloskey, S.N.D., click on the Home key above.