What is the truth?

The human capacity for learning is a result of millions of years of evolutionary process. As a product of human evolution, the learning process is based on the need to acquire information and understanding... knowledge of the realities of the world... true knowledge or 'truth'. The truth finding process depends on insights which are reliable because they involve the interplay of empirical observation or 'data' and experiential understanding or 'theory'.  Truth doesn't have to be demonstrated... or proven. Truth is there and nothing can change that. Not believing that something is true does not make the truth go away. Truth is ineluctable...  inescapable. Truth is the authority but to be motivated to search for truth, the mind must not be closed. If the mind is closed it is easy to mistake authority for the truth and it is difficult to unlearn a lie.  If people are conditioned to accept authority as 'truth' and if they feel comfortable with their sense of security in 'knowing the truth', then when they are challenged with the real truth their sense of security is compromised and they feel threatened . In a process of 'cognitive dissonance' they attempt to defend themselves from the facts which could make them vulnerable and confused...  they  fear what might be the truth... and so they react with resistance and self-justification; they   refuse to accept the 'new' truth and even fight the truth and this includes the messenger of the truth.  If on the other hand, the mind is open and free, authority is not mistaken for truth and questions are asked instead using the intelligence of moral or 'spiritual' insight... 'intuition'.  Motivation for the pursuit of truth is a function of engagement of psychological and moral or 'spiritual' development resulting in personality integration which is characterised by holistic perception and complete cognition. Hence the importance of education for freedom to  grow through learning... to cultivate intuitive intelligence or  'creative intelligence'  i.e. education of the personality as a whole or 'holistic education'. Holistic education involves intellectual independence 'independence of mind' as having the freedom and the courage to question authority in order to pursue the 'truth'. Truth as knowledge of reality is fundamental to accurate evaluation and creative decision-making required for effective adaptability and survival.