Note: This is an AI-assisted exploration. I am not assuming that AI summaries tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, nor am I assuming the whole truth and nothing but the truth is knowable or unknowable. Not to imply that the search for truth is a lost cause!
Facts versus Evidence: Facts are indisputable truths or occurrences, while evidence is the application of facts (like data, testimony, or objects) used to support or disprove a specific claim or assertion, making it reliable proof in legal, scientific, or everyday reasoning. A fact exists objectively (e.g., "wet sidewalks"), but evidence is the collected facts (e.g., footprints, rain sensor data) presented to prove a conclusion (e.g., "it rained last night").
Facts versus Information: Facts represent raw, verifiable data, while information provides context to turn those facts into insights.
Facts versus Truth: Facts are objective, verifiable, and isolated pieces of information, whereas truth is a broader concept that interprets those facts, incorporating context, meaning, and often experience or belief. While facts (e.g., "water boils at 100°C") are undeniable data points, truth represents the fuller understanding or significance of the situation.
Facts versus Reality: A fact is a verifiable statement about an event or detail considered true (e.g., "The Earth orbits the Sun"), while reality is the broader, often more complex state of existence that facts describe, encompassing everything that is, including undiscovered elements or subjective experiences, with facts being our understood, provable pieces of that larger reality. Think of reality as the whole picture and facts as individual, confirmed data points within it; facts are objective descriptions of reality, but reality itself includes subjective perceptions and potential truths beyond current knowledge.
Facts versus Expert Opinion: Facts are objective, verifiable, and empirical truths based on direct observation or evidence. Conversely, expert opinions are interpretations of facts provided by individuals with specialized knowledge, training, or experience. While facts are indisputable, expert opinions analyze complex data to provide insights beyond common knowledge.
Facts versus Scientific Consensus: Facts are empirically verified, specific data points or observations, while scientific consensus is the collective, informed judgment of experts based on the preponderance of evidence. Facts are often single measurements, whereas consensus represents the most consistent interpretation of all available data, which can change as new evidence emerge.
One teeny-weeny comment: notice how the definition of “facts” according to the comparison, which leads me to…
Objective versus Verified: Objective is unbiased, factual, and independent of personal feelings, while verified information is data confirmed through observation, measurement, or evidence. Objective refers to the nature of the information (unbiased), whereas verified refers to the confirmation of that information. Together, they form "objective verification"—using measurable evidence to confirm facts.