"True" is to "false" as "truth" is to... what?
If I were to reverse the sentence, "I care about the truth" I would want to say:
I care about the false.
Is that correct? It seems awkward at best:
He speaks the truth! / He speaks the false!
This one truth is important to all / This one false is important to all
The true response will depend on the context, I think. Truth as "fact" is best opposed by "falsehood" because these two words apply to whether or not statements correspond to reality. You might also make the argument the "fiction" is usually used in opposition in this same context.
This one falsehood is important to all
This one fiction is important to all
Of course, this is where the argument that there is only one truth and many falsehoods comes in, so you can take your pick of what word to use that means something that is not true. There are many words, because how we classify statements that are untrue depends on context, motivation, and intent (lies, deceptions, untruths, mistakes, misinterpretations, etc). I choose "falsehood" because I feel it is the most neutral term.
On the other hand, the truth as in "verity" is probably best opposed by "falsity" as these two words describe states.
I care about the falsity.
You want the falsity? You can't handle the falsity!
In this case, you are not talking about whether a specific thing is true, or sound, or logical. You are commenting on the concept of a state of reality; truth itself is the thing you care about. Therefore, the opposition is not properly "I care about lies" but rather "I care about the untruth."
So you could use untruth (it is a word after all). I choose falsity because it represents its own state, rather than the "un" existence of truth.
Falsehood, or simply a lie.
A few options:
- lies
- fiction
- fantasy
- falsehood
- fabrication
- nonsense
- deception
- untruth (though you couldn't say, "I stand for the untruth")
He speaks lies!
This deception affects everyone
Deception
Falsity
Lies
Untruth
Lie
Of the above, I prefer 'falsity' personally.