Sanningen

Sanningen is the definite form of the noun meaning "the truth" in Swedish and Norwegian, and it is also used in many contexts to refer to truth itself. In general usage, it denotes the property of being in accord with fact or reality, or a statement that corresponds to how things actually are. The term is central in philosophy, where truth is studied as a relation between sentences or beliefs and the world.

In philosophical literature, three broad theories are often discussed: the correspondence theory, which describes truth as alignment between statements and facts; the coherence theory, which defines truth as consistency within a system of beliefs; and the pragmatic theory, which considers truth insofar as a belief proves useful or workable.

Historically, long-standing debates on truth extend from ancient to modern thought. The idea of truth as correspondence has roots in classical philosophy; in the 20th century, logicians like Tarski developed formal theories of truth for languages, clarifying how truth can be defined for mathematical and logical systems.

In journalism, law, and science, truth is linked to evidence, verifiability, and transparent reporting. Practices such as fact-checking, source criticism, and replication are employed to establish or challenge truth claims.

Religious and ethical discourses also address truth, including questions about the knowability of divine or moral realities and the relation between faith and reason.