The Difference Between Truth and Fact

Veritas est adaequatio rei et intellectus
Truth is equation [or adequation] of thing and intellect
Thomas Aquinas

Based on the Wikipedia :

The meaning of the word truth extends from honesty, good faith, and sincerity in general, to agreement with fact or reality in particular.

Fact is defined as something that is true, something that actually exists, or something that can be verified according to an established standard of evaluation.

In Bahasa Indonesia, Truth and Fact have different meaning. While in English, Fact synonymous with Truth or Reality, and a distinguishable from conclusions or opinions.

So, is there any difference between truth and fact ?

Yes there is a difference since truth comes after the fact. Truth is something more definite, it maybe true, maybe not. While fact, it is always there, without right or wrong label/stamp on it.

In reality, in the real world, there a lot that the truth is not always the “right thing” while the fact is always there, like an open book, without right or wrong label.

For example, the tragedy in May 1998, the truth is the tragedy shown how fragile we, as a nation, in accepting the difference between minority and majority. Is it true ? Politician may say many things to deny it, but the fact has shown that the major victim was the minority.

Like a marriage couple. The truth is they are still as a perfect couple, a happy husband and wife. The fact is the husband has an affair. So, are they happy ? Well, the truth shown that they are happy. But the fact have different meaning, different articulation.

So how we decide whether or not something is true ?

For me, the answer is through the fact not the truth. Because fact will be the basis for the right or wrong decision based on the norm.