Discussion # 11: Theories of Truth
Q1: What do you think of the different theories of truth?
Q1a: Thoughts on Correspondence Theory-
A1a: Correspondence Truth Theory is bare-bones objective. I say that, because it is severely limited to recognize truth only in those opinions whose objects and relations can be verified to actually exist. For those that can, it hits, but I can't see any healthy person living by it, only having beliefs or judgments that are knowably certain, where most beliefs are not usually scrutinized in this way.
Q1b: Thoughts on Coherence Theory-
A1b: My preferred theory, Correspondence does relate to where we each are in life and, when applied honestly and not as a debatorial dismissal of responsibility, it holds us all personally accountable to discover greater truth in our experiences, and to dismiss and reject those that we find not to be consistent with the world at large. The uniquely important issue would be then to recognize this is not for debate or arbitrary judgment, but for awareness and personal reflection and developing.
Q1c: Thoughts on Pragmatic Theory-
A1c: That truth may be knowable, as a progressive accordance of ideas with their factuality -and- utility in the world and in our lived, seems to be the premise of the Pragmatic Theory. As our goals shift with our circumstances, the only thing redeeming this view for me is the comfort of not having to know or scrutinize every detail of an idea to accept it as true, for so long as circumstances and attention last.
Q2: Is Russell right - is there really one set version of "The Truth" (Objective)?
A2: Russell declares there is one set version of fact, of objects, and that the truth of beliefs & judgments is determined by how well they match that one, knowable reality, inasmuch as it can be known. It is useful to a point, but can become burdensome when things cannot be tested, or if they are tested wrongly, because of a faulty judgment about a beliefs objects or facts.
Q3: Should we side with Bradley or James and adopt a more "flexible" understanding of "the truth" (Subjective)?
A3: Any port in a storm! I've met more people than I care to that believe themselves to be Providence itself -- a twisted form of pragmatism, maybe, without the consciousness due to it.
My Preference:
I most appreciate the Coherence Theory, where we each develop inter-related thoughts, judgments, and opinions on things based on our own awareness of life, and strive to refine it all as best we can, allowing for gradients of truth to be known and to live in us as we change with the hour and seasons.
