Truth

A great deal of human philosophy and theology is devoted to determining what is true. What arises out of the search for what is true is a system of beliefs which govern how someone or group can come to know what is true. For example I could use the scientific method to determine the tensile strength of a piece of steel. By doing so I could state a what is true about a piece of steel.

While I believe that I have determined "the truth" about the tensile strength of a piece of steel, someone else may disagree with my methodology. This person may argue strongly and convincingly that I have not discovered "the truth" because my way of determining what is true is in error. Applying a different methodology to the truth produces a different result. Result, therefore, depends on methodology. For this reason one must distinguish between truth and the result of a methodology.

In order for someone to believe that they have found a truth, they must have faith that their methodology is correct. While there may be relatively slight disagreements about the methodology involved in determine the truth about the tensile strength of a piece of steel, other areas of life offer a wide variation on what is true. One group may believe that the Bible is the source of all truth. By interpreting passages (methodology) the truth is revealed. An other group may believe that everything can be know using the scientific method. Both groups may arrive at truths that are in direct conflict. Yet they are bound by the idea that in order to believe that something is true one must have faith that the methodology is correct.

Organizational principles which are based on what is true. If X and Y are true, then the organization should function like Z. principles, therefore are the natural extension of a determination of what is true. Principles based on truth form the basis which determines the direction and the range of acceptable actions for the organization. The survival of the organization depends heavily on each member behaving according to these principles. The organization's principles defines the moral code the organization or group.