I’m sure that this has been discussed before, but it just struck me again in terms of Epicurean criteria of truth …
The Greek word for “truth” here is ἀλήθεια, which stems from the adjective ᾰ̓ληθής – which attaches the negating ἀ to λῆθος: concealment or hiddeness. Thus “truth” is that which is unconcealed, or has been revealed.
Elli puts it thus in a wonderful essay:
ἀλήθεια — alētheia: truth as the unveiling of what escapes oblivion; the presence that resists forgetfulness [“When Science Returns to the Hellenic Worldview: Empathy and Consciousness Redeemed”]
It strikes me that this understanding of truth – as ἀ - λήθεια – ties in well with Epicurus’ Canon of truth, i.e. that which is uncovered or revealed by αἴσθησῐς, πᾰ́θος and πρόληψῐς. That which cannot be concealed or veiled by idealistic or supernaturalistic conceptions: the truth of experience will out.
Anyway, that’s a nuance which struck me. As I said, it likely has been discussed here before (and maybe I just forgot
).