LOGICAL AND MORAL TRUTHS IN THE LEGISLATIVE INQUIRY
(Erico Joseph T. Cañete)
THE INVESTIGATIVE INQUIRY of the house quadcom and senate in aid of legislation sparks a lot of dilemma in the quest for truth. Others believe that this investigation, well publicized, ignites a quandary or suspicion whether the intention is to seek the truth as a guide to new legislative measures, or a mere act of politicizing; a vendetta. We have this observation since the pattern of questioning, reasoning, argumentation, inference, and nevertheless, responses from the resource persons and witnesses manifest the error of sophism.
Sophism occurs when deceptive words, ideas and argumentation are used with the intention of misleading. Its difference with fallacy lies in the intention. Yet, arguments in fallacy may be used in sophism like fallacies appealing to stick, authority, shame, absolute and qualified statements, individual, people, among others. Also observed on the part of the witnesses or resource speakers, aside from concealing the truth invoking the right not to be compelled to be a witness against oneself, are fallacies appealing to emotion, begging the issue, and ignorance
Truth does not depend on the individual’s perception about reality. It does not depend on what I say reality should be. It is not dependent on the subject. It is not subjective. Recantation of a previous statement, proven beyond any reasonable doubt, in favor of the victors in politics belongs to this kind. Philosophers call this ontological truth.
What our mind ought to seek is the logical truth, that is, when the mind conforms with reality. The basis here is the object of which our mind ought to conform. This is not the kind of truth which says, “Whatever the boss says, it is”. The moment the mind dwells on logical truth, moral truth usually follows. That is, conformity of one’s speech with the norms of morality.
From the individual perspective of our human nature, it is important to tell the truth for the mind has truth as its object. The power of speech is made to communicate what is in the mind. So, from the individual’s point of view, telling the truth is important since truth is the object of the mind. Doing this is an act of perfecting the mind.
We live in society. So, we owe each other that which contributes to order and harmony.
This is possible if people trust each other. People trust each other if they tell the truth. So, from the social point of view, there’s a need to tell the truth.
The investigative inquiry is full of human drama like a best seller novel. It started with POGO, issues on illegal drugs, human trafficking, murder, extra judicial killing, and now, Quiboloy. Subscribing to logical and moral truth in this investigation facilitates in achieving the intention of this legislative act; in aid of legislation.