[miahwilde]

What is a fact - fundamentally?

[CharlesW]

Start here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fact

[masswerk]

An observation in the context of a specific frame of reference (and only in this context). As a frame of reference is mostly a social construct (or an idea anyways), it mostly relies on social consensus, which is both fundamental but also limited to the particular frame of reference.

[masswerk]

Just adding: The above is actually basic epistemology. Anytime you design a study, you are supposed to ask, what is considered a fact, in what framework is it considered a fact, how is it defined in that framework, what is the claim and reach of the framework (hence its legitimacy), what are contenders or alternatives, how does this conform with the study design and the overall framework it fits in.