Blackburn offers an exploration of what he calls "the most exciting and engaging issue in the whole of philosophy"--the age-old war over truth. The front lines are well defined: on one side are those who believe in plain facts, rock-solid truths that can be found through reason and objectivity--that science leads to truth, for instance. Their opponents see the dark forces of language, culture, power, gender, class, ideology and desire--all subverting our perceptions of the world, and clouding our judgment with false notions of absolutes. Beginning with an early skirmish--when Socrates confronted the sophists in ancient Athens--Blackburn offers a penetrating look at the longstanding battle. Among the questions he considers are: is science mere opinion, can historians understand another historical period, and indeed can one culture ever truly understand another.--From publisher description.