Larry Levenson did a good job of showing the history of our 4 Way Test in Rotary. One of the elements that came out of that research was the basis of the Judao-Christian background for its beginnings. Let me play the advocate from another perspective (notice: I did not say, "the devil's advocate). We can begin with, "Is it the Truth?"

In the Western culture, we live lives that are harnessed upon the idea of "or": good or evil, heaven or hell, up or down, liberal or conservative, man or woman, straight or gay, right or wrong, truth or lies, etc., etc., etc. Let me take myself in this political year: Am I liberal? Yes, in program thinking. Am I conservative? Yes, in fiscal matters. Am I independent? Yes, in terms of those issues where I do not have all the information needed to make a decision. In terms of gender, am I a man? Yes, but  I sometimes think like a woman. Therefore I am the ying/yang Chinese symbol where in every man there is a woman; and in every woman a man. Which is the truth? As the King said in the King and I, "It is a puzzlement!"

If I am asked by my students, "Is that work of art impressionism or expressionism or both?" They have learned to expect an answer of "Yes!" The job of the observer, the teacher, is to help them narrow their options for an answer. If I cannot live in their skin, can I tell them some ultimate "truth?"

When someone asks if history is the truth, I ask in return, "Who wrote the history?" "truth" with a small "t" is always written by the conqueror, therefore truth in history is never a tool of the vanquished. Who can stand outside and ask, "Is it the truth?", without the data of the vanquished as well as the conqueror.

Everything that I have questioned about the first principle of Rotary, "Is it the truth?", can be made with the other three. Is it fair to all concerned? What action is fair to ALL CONCERNED? I really cannot see any treaty in the Middle East being called that. And who is the judge of that fairness? The powerful nations on the outside of the conflict?

Given all my questions, all my years living in "and" cultures (which contrasted with my "or" heritage), I still hope that there is an answer to "Is it the truth?" It may be that truth today is thinking outside the "or" delimma. Maybe we can combine "or" and "and" to see something which approaches "truth." Then again, maybe, the belief in the existence of "truth" is just that, a belief that cannot stand the test of too close inspection.  Then, again, maybe not!

Even with all this sketicism, if someone stops me on the street and says, "You have a lovely wife." I do not ever come back with, "Compared to what?"

Joe

1. Truth..!! A big question.

 What is it? India is prospering because of the work outsourced by US and other countries. It is the glittering truth for India. But is it the glittering truth for the US?

How can we justify the truth?

2. Is it fair to all concern?

Let's just take the same outsourcing example...!! Is it fair to both the nations or its fair to the outsourcer and India?

3. Will it build good will and better friendships?

May be yes. But most likely no.

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

No, obviously not.

How do we justify 4 way test in ll the matters?

Lets take a simple example.

I get an old patient. And after all the examintions and investigations, I diagnose him to have some cancer. His son cme to me to collect the reports and I told him the fact. Now, he requests me not to tell this truth to his father as he is not strong enough to handle this fact.

What am I supposed to do?

If I don't tell me patient the truth, my conscious will bite me someday. But at the same time, the son and the family will take care of this person and things will be fine. So, I am hiding the truth and it is not fair to all concern. It will build good friendship and relations with the family and finally it will be beneficial to all concern.

Should I do that?

Or I tell the truth to the patient and let his and his family's life be miserable till he lives? Will that be fair to all? Will it build good relationship? will that be beneficial to all concern?