1. James Evans
Senior Seminar Period 7
Mr. Clover
February 23rd, 2012
Rashomon Essay
The theory that there is one truth out there is one way of coming to terms with trying
to understand the world and universe around us. Another theory is that of subjectivity, where
there is a truth but it is specific to each individual. Errol Morris seems to believe that there is
the concept of truth and that truth is out there but we just refuse or obscure our vision of it. I
agree with Morris’ stand point with his regard to truth as being absolute. Although I may not
be as extreme as Morris as he claims that he is “a realist in that sense; [he] believe[s] in the
real world” thus stating that there is no other interpretation. There may be several other
explanations to a situation and as Plato would say, we can never really know anything. I am
in agreement with Morris on the basis of his ideas as his position best fits the events of the
movie in the terms of understanding the big picture, as there is one truth but different
obscurities preventing the knowledge of the events to be fully gripped.
There is always another interpretation of a situation to others but “There is such a
thing as truth, but we have a vested interest in not seeing it, in avoiding it.” The simplest way
of describing what this standpoint really means is that there is a single truth, an absolute truth
that exists. For example the attack in the Gulf of Tonkin, “Either we were attacked or we
weren’t attacked”. Regardless of what a person will conclude is the truth for them, there will
always be a set truth that exists whether we choose to accept, understand and acknowledge it
or not. This is sort of the main point of the film, “Rashomon”. The point of the film is that
there was a death, this much is true, this fact will remain out there and there will be one truth
regarding the subject matter but it is through the eye witness testimony’s where our vision of
the truth becomes obscured and our grasp on that knowledge is loosened.

2. James Evans
Senior Seminar Period 7
Mr. Clover
February 23rd, 2012
Although knowing whether or not what the truth may be, the truth will always be out
there and it will exist as knowledge. As for knowledge, knowledge will always exist through
Plato’s theory of “Justified True Belief” but also according to Plato, we humans will never
understand it (thus we know nothing at all). The “knowledge equals justified true belief”
(K=JTB) theory states that if there is justification, truth and a belief in one specific topic then
it has to be knowledge. If a truth will constantly exist and if someone believes in that truth
and has proof to justify it then they can claim that they know the truth and ultimately attain
knowledge, the ultimate prize. Thus when the K=JTB method is applied to the situation put
forth in “Rashomon” then what will the outcome be? Considering the fact that there are
multiple different beliefs and there are different justifications (not taking into account
physical evidence because there was none but instead motives of the people involved) then
none of the characters (according to Plato and to Morris) can have knowledge. There is truth
out there but because there are so many different interpretations of the events that unfolded
how can anyone know what is real and what is fallacy? In a way, the death of the samurai is
similar to the example that Morris mentioned before where the samurai is the Gulf of Tonkin,
and he was either murdered or he committed suicide.
However, if someone has a different belief or perspective of the truth and that person
has justification for that knowledge that they hold, then they could also be correct. This may
cause a problem or a paradox to arise, however, according to Morris, his belief is that there is
one set truth that will remain true whether we humans can understand and believe it or not.
This also ties into the theory of eye witness testimonies and that they may not be completely
reliable due to the fact that some people may have a different interpretation of the truth, even
when the actual truth is set. This is the main conundrum that occurs in the film Rashomon,

3. James Evans
Senior Seminar Period 7
Mr. Clover
February 23rd, 2012
the fact that there seems to be no set truth from the eye witness testimonies because their
interpretations of the truth are all obscuring their grasp of the actual set truth of what
occurred.
Regardless of who was right and who was wrong or whether anyone was correct at all
in “Rashomon”, one thing will remain clear. There is and will always be a single, justified,
believable, absolute truth out there. We may never be able to obtain it which will support
Plato in his theory that we can never really “have knowledge”, but it follows Morris’ theory
that there is a truth but our perception will lead us astray. It may lead us close to finding that
absolute truth or at least close enough to have a basic understanding of it. In the case of the
film, “Rashomon” the truth will be lost out there and may never be discovered due to the
different accounts from the eye witnesses and all the different bits of information that have
lead us astray, all the red herrings. Although the answer may not be reached by the end of the
movie and may be never reached, it is a clear example of how an absolute truth can exist
without anyone being able to find it as we humans can always try to search for the truth, but
our efforts may lead us to different conclusions.
Citations
“Errol Morris.” Interview by Believe. Believermag.com. The Believer, Apr. 2004. Web.
Feb. 23rd 2012.