What is truth?

According to the most popular theory of truth in metaphysics, truth is 'that which corresponds to reality' - in other words, that which exists in reality. If something corresponds to reality, then it is part of reality; it exists in relation to reality. Truth therefore is in love with reality, and reality is relational. Reality seeks its own welfare, and it seeks our welfare (which is why we have been gifted minds to discern truth, eyes to see, ears to hear, mouths to satisfy our hunger and thirst, arms to manipulate, and feet to move). If this is true, then truth is a form of love and love is a form of truth. As I have said before (see What are Christian values), love is a selfless or just way of life.

When we seek the truth (seek to conform to reality), we are seeking to act in accordance with this selfless way of life. We need to be humble to align with the truth - we need to drop our own opinions and desires at the door and submit to something we see as higher than ourselves. When we say 'I know that Beethoven was a musician', we are saying 'I have formed a selfless and affectionate relationship with the proposition that Beethoven was a musician'. We fall in love with the notion that Beethoven was a musician and can no longer bring ourselves to think otherwise - an act of fidelity.

When we are convinced by some evidence, we take a step of trust into the hitherto unknown based on that evidence. We take the evidence at its word and become companions of the truth it points to. It is blind love, because we don't focus on the uncertainties regarding the evidence, rather we acquiesce to it and treat it as if it's certain.

Lying is unloving because it deprives someone of truth. Assaulting someone is wrong because you're lying with your hands; telling them they're not of value. Disrespecting your wife is wrong because you're treating her as if she isn't joined to you. Treating someone right (in a loving manner) means treating someone truly.