08 Truth Theories

What is Truth?
3 Theories of Truth
What is Truth?
With you neighbour,
Discuss the difference between:
Certainty
And Truth
What is Truth?
3 Theories of Truth
Correspondence Theory
Correspondence Theory: The theory that a statement is true
if it corresponds to a fact.
In other words, an idea which corresponds with reality is true

while an idea which does not correspond with reality is false.
A fact cannot be either true or false it simply is because that is

the way the world is. A belief, is capable of being true or false
because it may or may not accurately describe the world.
Example: Thus, the belief that the sky is blue is a true belief
because of the fact that the sky is blue.
Coherence Theory
Coherence Theory: A belief is true when we are able to
incorporate it in an orderly and logical manner into a larger and
complex system of beliefs
A potential weakness of this theory: a belief can be an

inaccurate description of reality and fit in with a larger, complex
system of further inaccurate descriptions of reality, according to
the Coherence Theory the inaccurate belief would be still be
called a truth.
But claims cannot be verified in isolation. Let’s say a claim fits

into a complex system without creating contradictions. Then
the complex system could then be tested against reality.
Pragmatic Theory
The pragmatic theory of truth is a little more complicated, and requires us to
understand a little bit about the background of the philosophical school of
pragmatism, and its most famous member, William James. Pragmatism
holds that truth is whatever is useful and profitable to us, and whatever
brings us benefit.
For William James, this meant that truth was ‘mutable’ or changeable, rather
than something concrete and absolute. James believed that it often takes a
long time to figure out whether something is true or not, based on whether it
works successfully.
To put this in context, we can look at James’ position on religion. James said
that there was no real proof for the existence of God, and there was very little
philosophical justification for believing in him. However, if you find that
believing in God helps your life and makes your existence more fulfilling, then
for you, the truth is that there is a God.
IB: Past Prescribed Titles
To what extent do you agree with the claim that

"there’s a world of difference between truth and
facts". (Maya Angelou) Answer with reference to
two areas of knowledge. (2022 May)
Do good explanations have to be true? (2019

May)
To what extent is truth different in mathematics, the arts and

ethics? (2016)
Why can’t we just agree on one
Truth?
While Absolute Truth (is defined as inflexible reality: fixed,
invariable, unalterable facts) may be necessary in some
situations there are dangers.
If someone believes they possess such a truth they may

impose it on others. This is called Dogmatism: (the unthinking
conviction that one is in possession of the truth without
subjecting ones’ beliefs to critical examination or considering
other points of view)
The Lure of Relativsim
Relativism = the belief that truth is relative to the culture in which you live.
Some may say that relativism encourages a “…tolerant live and let-live
attitude, which is appropriate in a multi-cultural world”
But….
“Relativism reduces truth to such things as personal preferences,
persuasion, and power.”
“the danger is that you will then believe something simply because it fits in
with your prejudices because someone has persuaded you to believe it or
because you have been bullied or indoctrinated into believing it this is
clearly not a desirable state of affairs”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2017/jan/22/kellyanne-con
way-trump-press-secretary-alternative-facts-video
A compromise
You get nearer to the truth the more perspectives you have on it.
Ex. What is Henry like? (ask 4 people for different perspectives)
Ex. Describe Mount Everest (4 ppl each look at a different direction
N, E, S, W)
Cubist Theory of Truth: the belief that the more perspectives

you have on something, the closer you get to the truth about it.
“the error of dogmatism is to mistake a half-truth for the whole

truth; and the error of relativism is to think that, since the truth
varies with your perspective, there is no truth at all.”
This solves the problem by looking at different perspectives.

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What is Truth?

In other words, an idea which corresponds with reality is true

A fact cannot be either true or false it simply is because that is

A potential weakness of this theory: a belief can be an

But claims cannot be verified in isolation. Let’s say a claim fits

To what extent do you agree with the claim that

Do good explanations have to be true? (2019

To what extent is truth different in mathematics, the arts and

If someone believes they possess such a truth they may

Cubist Theory of Truth: the belief that the more perspectives

“the error of dogmatism is to mistake a half-truth for the whole

This solves the problem by looking at different perspectives.

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