ONLY HUMANS CAN MAKE TRUTH CLAIMS. We cannot know the truth proper (the most par

ONLY HUMANS CAN MAKE TRUTH CLAIMS.

We cannot know the truth proper (the most parsimonious statement possible by humans if possessed of perfect information) even if we speak it. We can only know that we do not speak in error, bias, wishful thinking, or deceit.

If we perform due diligences (proofs of survival) in an attempt to falsify our statements, then we demonstrate that 1) we speak as truthfully as humanly possible in the moment, 2) we speak morally, and if we err will not be judged harshly by our peers, 3) and we progress toward the truth even if we later discover that we err.

The verb to-be is a pleasant shortcut, but our primary source of overconfidence in our speech. And if we eliminate the verb to-be then we cannot say ‘this phrase is true’. We can only say “I promise I speak truthfully when I say this phrase.”

We are often confused by conflating honesty, proof, analytic truth, truthfulness, and ‘truth’ proper.

But only humans can make truth claims. We speak truthfully or not. we testify to the truthfulness of symbols and measures. Symbols and measures cannot promise so they cannot speak truthfully. Only their authors can.