“Different cultures have different truths.” “A truth is that which can be accepted universally.”
What are the implications for knowledge of agreeing with these opposing statements?

Different cultures have different truths which are not necessarily accepted universally. There are opposing truths which might not be agreed upon because they are different. In everyday life there are choices that need to be made. Nothing can really be agreed upon for there are too many opinions to bring together. No specific ideas or statement is wrong or right; but they are based on the individual’s opinion. It depends on their surroundings and knowledge. They have different knowledge that another might not have and therefore they make their statement on what they know. On a regular basis we choose among contradictory statements. For a person that needs to decide on a side, it may be somewhat difficult. The different thoughts develop from the different knowledge possessed and the different points of view.
Cultural “truths” are values that are developed from various inputs. The knower’s personal point of view is like a filter that is a benefit in obtaining knowledge. The filters that filter our knowledge are different in every individual according to our surroundings. These filters can change. The filters are a particular mind set, different in every person, which is carved out by many factors. These factors can include but are not limited to culture, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and many others. These are factors that are different within everyone. The facts that a person has a religious believe, or not one at all, has a vast difference between others. Filters are what help us perceive knowledge, but knowledge is not always what we think it is. Parents, society, and even past cultures are the most important kind of filters that can have an input as to the development of the cultural truths. Society has intended to develop a set of truths for everyone to follow. In the past there were communities with morals that must be followed. Morality was an important part of life and some acts were intolerable among society. Most of the time, if a person disagreed they could do little to change the situation, but if a person rebelled against society they were segregated. The people felt obligated to follow. It seems like society can have the power to set cultural values as a whole but not as specific for an individual because not everyone will agree. Groups of people may be classified in a certain culture because they share some of the same moral values, points of view, and the way they think. Cultures may clash and think of certain aspects as irrelevant. They clash because people don’t understand the others person’s culture and are unwilling to be open minded to find out what the other culture’s beliefs or traditions are or even unwilling to try to understand their thoughts on why they do certain things. Other cultures may influence people to build up on their values which are then passed down from generation to generation. They can get certain values from different cultures to make a new one. Such as American culture which is composed of various other cultures. These are some of the fundamental elements that make up the moral principles.
Not only do these factors make up our knowledge of the right things, but we are put under pressure of doing the right thing by the people that judge us from the actions we take. This may lead to rapid decisions of whether agreeing with some opposing statements. People in society that are close to you judge you all the time. They have nothing better to do than to see what truths they have. They pressure to be the same as they are because people automatically think that a person is weird because they don’t have the same beliefs. For instance, when the white people first settled into what is now known as America they thought that Indians were savage people but in fact they knew nothing about them. They bestow “rules that must be followed” and when other cultures don’t follow these “rules” then they are considered “savage”.

On a daily bases choices are being made among contradictory statements. In the areas of knowledge opinions are brought up about a subject constantly. For instance, history is currently being made. History is said to be written by the winners, for they record what is most convenient for them. In different parts of the world history is viewed and has affected in different ways. Technology seems to be grasping every bit of information of the events occurring. Today technology is being used frequently to record events, but it is also a medium to find more information about our world. Although science has progressed, there are moral issues involved in some of the sciences practiced. There are issues about whether to continue stem cell research. There are questions asked like is it wrong to destroy an embryo in order to obtain the stem cells? At what stage is it considered to be existing? The contradictory statement and the benefits and disadvantages need to be considered to choose among the contradictory statements or come to an agreement.
To decide between contradicting ideas many factors need to be considered, yet they are vague for both contradicting factors have valid points to be correct. Truths are subjective to each individual and each culture. A variety of people may choose from opposing statements for convenience. It is also important to think about the benefit of other people as well. Beliefs are relevant that encourage the viewpoint of others to be considered as true or false. Even though there is no right or wrong way that is how ideas are categorized in each person’s mind, according to specific criteria created in every individual. Most of the time people are not open minded to other’s opinions. We choose not to take in account someone else’s ideas because we often believe our way is the only way. It deprives us from acquiring more knowledge. Having one’s ideas co-exist with someone else’s is something the majority of the people are just not open to. Because different people have different values, the moral values are not always agreed upon. All of these factors shape and mold the “truths” of each culture.