Fact
A fact is that which pertains to existence—something that is the case in reality as it is independent of consciousness.[1] Existence, being the most fundamental concept, cannot be defined in terms of anything more basic than "that which is", and so facts, as the "that which" of existence, derive their meaning from their role as distinct manifestations of reality. A fact exists independently of any beings trying to get the facts right, i.e. any beings using facts. As such, facts can be understood and situated within our knowledge, but they cannot be defined further. Ayn Rand states, “Truth is the product of the recognition (i.e., identification) of the facts of reality." This means that to grasp a fact is to recognize a portion of reality as it is, without the deliberate disintegrating of facts. To hold something as true is to correctly—without contradiction—identify and integrate a fact of reality.
Facts precede truth; truth is our grasp of facts, and falsity lies in the realm of cognition, not in reality itself. All truths must be comprised of facts, but truth is not intrinsic in any fact of reality; facts are out there in reality, truth is the conceptual identification of those facts. As Aristotle noted, "Falsity and truth are not in things... but in thought" (Metaphysics 1027b25-26). Once we ascertain a fact's existence, the fundamentals of Objectivist metaphysics is conditioned: a fact exists independently of consciousness(existence exists), it is an existent which one is conscious of(consciousness exists), and is what it is (the law of identity).
Objectivism differentiates between metaphysical facts, which are inherent in existence, and man-made facts, which are caused by human actions and choices. Metaphysical facts, such as the laws of physics, are immutable and absolute. These facts exist independently of human action and cannot be altered by consciousness. On the other hand, man-made facts result from human actions and choices, such as the construction of skyscrapers or the goods produced in an economy. Such facts are products of human decisions and can be changed by altering those decisions. While reality itself is absolute, the creations of human beings are contingent upon human decisions. However, all facts persist even when we don't see them in front of us and they do what they do because of their state of affair both within themselves and between other things in the world.
While facts are fundamental and absolute, our understanding of them is always subject to the context and scope of our knowledge. Objectivism rejects the notion of out-of-context absolutes, a fact is validated within the context of one's knowledge available at a given time. As knowledge grows, previously known facts are not contradicted but are seen in a broader, more integrated context. Like the discovery of additional stable molecular forms of carbon, these new discoveries do not invalidate the fact that graphite and diamond are stable forms of carbon; it simply expands the contextual understanding of carbon's properties. Definitions are contextual and evolve as knowledge expands. A proper definition condenses a vast body of observations into a concise statement, capturing the essence of a concept. The definition of "gold" has evolved from its observable properties to include its atomic number as science advanced. While definitions may change, they remain grounded in the objective facts of reality, reflecting a deeper and more precise understanding over time.
Ignoring or evading facts leads to failure and destruction, as actions based on false premises cannot achieve the intended attainment of ends. Values are not derived from some mystic authority or whim but from the nature of reality and the requirements of human life. Every proper value-judgment is an identification of a fact: something is good because it affirms your life, or bad because it threatens it. Thus, values are a type of fact, specifically facts in relation to the choice to live. Every fact entails an evaluation because it has implications for human action and survival.