How do you love truth?

[supertom]

The German writer Gotthold Lessing introduced a interesting dilemma:

What if God offered you a choice? In his right hand, he would have all truth and in his left hand he would have only the capacity to strive for truth, coupled with the possibility for error. You simply need to choose one hand.

Which hand would you choose?

Lessing suggested that he would choose the left hand, from an existentialists perspective choosing the right hand means choosing an existential death. In possessing all truth, you would destroy the very possibility of existing as a human being, an existence that requires the kind of passionate striving that includes mystery and the kind of risk that comes along with it. To know all truth would be to control existence, but at the cost of losing all passion for life.

Taken from Existentialism for dummies

[Federer]

I will choose the right hand which has truth. I have courage to do so.

[veloci]

Since I love living life so much, the left hand. Sure I'll eventually know the truth, but I'm in no rush to know them.

[Anthoneee]

I feel knowing everything would take the adventure out of life. If I knew the truth, what would I do with that information? Impress people at parties? I don't know, seems unnecessary to know the truth, and I feel the security that comes from it would make life very boring.

[ZephyrusX]

When it comes to culture and social customs, I don't think there is a static truth to know. I'm more interested in the dynamic customs of people rather than the physical sciences or new age knowledge (if that is what you are gettng at). If I had to chose though, I would pick the right hand. I think knowing the truth would only increase my appreciation for life and all of its complexities. I don't think my sense of wonder would deminish at all

[Getonmylevel]

Left Hand. You know what your getting with that. If you take the truth, you have no idea what that will lead to.

[Annie Zero]

I think most people with a brain would choose left hand (and it's not really a choice, it's what you already have), what's actually significant here is the question itself. Most everyone strives for truth or more knowledge, but if God suddenly popped up in front of you and said, "Well, you seem to really want to know stuff, so how about I just let you know literally Everything Ever right now?"
And you'll say "Thanks, but no thanks."
It's a normal answer, the only thing with it is that it seems contradictory and you'll pause to think about it. "So do I want to know stuff or don't I?"

It's not a contradiction though (more like a nontradiction, am I right?). To bring an analogy, if I wanted a piece of cake it doesn't mean I want to eat all cakes ever right now. Apparently Federer thinks it's courageous of him to want to eat all the cakes.

[Ne Cede Malis]

I think it's a none question, because the concept of all truth seems flawed. And assuming all truth existed, if I had it - wouldn't that make me God?

But, in the general spirit of the question - I would chose the left hand.

This seems more natural and organic. I don't think the human mind could comfortably handle all truth, all at once!

Ne Cede Malis

[LostMyMap]

I think I would tell God to stop F**King with me.

[pinacolada]

truth is sweet but it kills i go with the left.. just for this reason ... what you don't know won't hurt you and im a coward

[Andrew Brunelle]

I'd rather find truth on my own than just already know it. The journey for me is just as important as the destination. Sure, it would be nice to have all knowledge and control the world, but I'd rather not know a few things about the world and discover them than just know everything, because then what would be the point of life other than to stagnate?

[taylor]

Are we assuming "the truth" is intellectual or mystical? Either way I'd like to have it, thanks. Then I could spend my time doing something else like knitting.

If you are actually striving for truth you'd choose the right hand.

If you're only casually interested in truth as a hobby or passion, you'd choose left.

It's a choice between entertainment and knowledge. I don't see the choice's profundity.

[KaleidoskopicVision]

I'd choose the right hand, knowing that truth is not static and it is created, thus I would be omniscient and could see the boundaries of creation and then improve upon them creatively. What fun!

Plus I like the suspense of it all. And I'm just really really really curious.

[Poiesis Hagakure]

Originally Posted by taylor

Are we assuming "the truth" is intellectual or mystical? Either way I'd like to have it, thanks. Then I could spend my time doing something else like knitting.

If you are actually striving for truth you'd choose the right hand.

If you're only casually interested in truth as a hobby or passion, you'd choose left.

It's a choice between entertainment and knowledge. I don't see the choice's profundity.

AMEN! Though, I would spend my time learning to knit...

Originally Posted by supertom

Lessing suggested that he would choose the left hand, from an existentialists perspective choosing the right hand means choosing an existential death. In possessing all truth, you would destroy the very possibility of existing as a human being, an existence that requires the kind of passionate striving that includes mystery and the kind of risk that comes along with it. To know all truth would be to control existence, but at the cost of losing all passion for life.

Taken from Existentialism for dummies

IMO it is incorrect to pose ultimate truth and existential existence as mutually exclusive. 'tis true that existential existence is a search for meaning. Ok, so the big G pops up and offers you all knowledge. You accept. Now what? You still are living. You still make decisions, judgements, have emotions, etc. Time does not cease now. And what's more, you still have meaning to create for yourself and for the world. Because truth is revealed does not make existence meaningless.

[autarko]

I'd choose the right hand - the whole truth. My intuition acknowledges both objective and subjective truth and most of my life has been dovoted to refining these ideals. I WANT THE SOLUTIONS! If 'God' were to offer them to me I'd accept, though in reality I doubt it would make much immediate difference to my consciousness. It's easier to know the truth than to practise it. That's the nitty-gritty.

[Andrew Gubb]

there are other things to strive for in life than truth... i don't think you'd lose all passion for life if you took the first option.

[autarko]

Yes I don't think it would make much difference either way, because what good is a truth which you know in your mind but are not sufficiently clear emotionally and subconsciusly to practise.

Hmmm... I guess awareness is a good step towards wisdom. Please may I choose the right hand??

[rodav]

Left hand. I don't want to miss the journey. It's always sweeter than the destination.

Besides, if I'm handed the truth, I wouldn't understand its meaning, because I wouldn't know how I got there.

Interesting challenge.

________________________

your mind is your greatest wealth
growing and learning are limitless

[Velorien]

Right hand. God already knows all truth, and evidently he's having fun with it if he's going round setting random people existential challenges.

Thus, if I come to know all truth, and thereby become God, I can also be fairly sure that I'll find ways to have fun with it.

The notion that one has to choose between the journey and the destination stems from fear that, upon reaching the destination, there will be no more journeys. Never has there been any evidence for this.

[Midnite]

Originally Posted by Velorien

Right hand. God already knows all truth, and evidently he's having fun with it if he's going round setting random people existential challenges.

Thus, if I come to know all truth, and thereby become God, I can also be fairly sure that I'll find ways to have fun with it.

The notion that one has to choose between the journey and the destination stems from fear that, upon reaching the destination, there will be no more journeys. Never has there been any evidence for this.

I kind of love your brain sometimes.

I would also choose the right hand, however my reasoning is this; What kind of God doesn't know how to appear in his own Game? I will always find it more fun to come back unrestricted, rather than as a person struggling with everyday lessons to get through life.

More importantly, as a God, you would feel all the love and passion in the universe, it is also true you would feel all the hurt and pain. However would you not be able to create a universe of your own making and design?