A truth that operates on a level above regular factual claims, dealing with the nature, construction, and limits of truth itself. It's not about whether a statement is true (e.g., "the sky is blue"), but about the framework that makes such an assessment possible (e.g., "truth is a relationship between statements and a socially-agreed-upon reality"). Meta-truths are the rules of the truth-game, often emerging in philosophy, postmodern critique, or when someone says, "Well, technically, truth is subjective." They're the truths you use to deconstruct other truths, often leaving you intellectually satisfied but unable to win a simple argument.
Example: "In the debate, he pulled a meta-truth: 'Your facts are all correct, but they're trapped within a capitalist paradigm that defines value through growth, which is itself a constructed truth.' He was factually obliterated, but claimed a higher, meta-truth victory that pissed everyone off."
by Dumu The Void January 30, 2026
Get the Meta-Truth mug.The pervasive human cognitive tendency to initially accept information as true, especially if it aligns with pre-existing beliefs or comes from a seemingly credible source, before expending the mental energy to critically evaluate or verify it. It’s the mind’s default "truth until proven false" setting, a mental shortcut that saves energy but makes us vulnerable to misinformation, propaganda, and the first compelling narrative we hear. In a debate, it’s the unfair advantage held by the person who speaks first and most confidently.
Example: You read a headline that says "Study: Coffee Causes Cancer." Your immediate, gut reaction is a spike of worry—that's Truth Bias in action. Only later, if at all, do you check if the study was on rats, involved absurd doses, or was funded by a tea company. The false claim gets a free pass into your brain because skepticism requires conscious effort.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026
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