8.8: Differences Between Truth and Validity

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Jim Marteney
Los Angeles Valley College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI)

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Differences Between Truth and Validity

TRUTH	VALIDITY
Truth is the complete accuracy of whatever was, is, or will be, error-proof, beyond doubt, dispute or debate, a final test of right or wrong of people's ideas and beliefs.	Validity is defined as the internal consistency of an argument. That is, is the conclusion reached consistent and reasonable with the information used to reach that conclusion?
On any subject, there can be one and only one Truth. For example, there either is or is not a God. Since these two are mutually exclusive and opposite, only one of these two positions can be True.	On any subject, there can be many valid positions. For example, both positions that there is a God, and there is not a God, can be real and argued as valid or reasonable.
The threshold for Truth is measured as absolute certainty.	The threshold for validity is measured using the entire Continuum of Certainty.
Truth is tied to self-esteem. Thus, resolving arguments related to truth require a win or lose environment. If a single truth exists, there are two communicative problems: (1) we don't know who knows it; and (2) we don't know if it can be accurately communicated to others.	Validity is tied to the information available. The goal in arguing validity is to find out which position in an argument is the most valid one at the time resolution is reached. The most valid position might change as new information becomes available.
Arguing over the Truth promotes dogmatism. Dogmatism discourages constructive argumentation.	Arguing for the most valid position promotes open-mindedness. Open-mindedness encourages constructive argumentation.
Acquiring Truth is not the goal of a course in argumentation and critical thinking.	How to recognize valid positions and finding out which position is the most valid one is the goal of a course in argumentation and critical thinking.