Theories of Truth

1. The Correspondence Theory of Truth

   • The basic idea of the correspondence theory is that what we believe or say is true if it corresponds to the way things are based on the facts.

   • It argues that an idea that correspond with reality is true while an idea, which does not correspond to reality is false.

     For example, if I say,

     • “The sky is blue”

       then I looked outside and saw that it is indeed blue, then my statement is true.

     • “Pigs have wings”

       then I checked a pig and it did not have wings, then my statement was false

   • The Correspondence Theory of Truth would have sense perception or experience as its source of knowledge.

   Fact vs Belief

   • FACT

     • A fact is some set of circumstances in the world while a belief is an opinion about what those facts are.

     • A fact cannot be either true or false because it simply the way the world is.

   • BELIEF

     • A belief, however, is capable of being true or false because it may or may not accurately describe the world.

   • Correspondence Theory assumes that a belief is true when we can confirm it with reality.

     • In other words, by simply checking if the statement or belief agrees with the way things really are, we can know the truth.

2. The Coherence Theory of Truth

   • Deals with the consistency of the truth of statements being claimed within the system that is being used or employed.

   • For example: use of a formula for a certain mathematical problem.

     • Coherence - the quality of being logical and consistent.

   • In a sense, the Coherence Theory is similar to the Correspondence Theory since both evaluates statements based on their agreement with reality. The difference lies in the method where the former involves a larger system while the latter relies on a single evidence of fact.

3. The Pragmatic Theory of Truth

   • The Pragmatic Theory of Truth states that a belief/statement is true if it has a useful (pragmatic) PRACTICAL application in the world. If it does not, then it is not true.

   • Pragmatism as a philosophical viewpoint is associated with William James

     “If I do this, what is in it for me?”

     • Once you examine your choices or alternatives, you will take into consideration the good and practical consequences before making a decision.

   • We can know if statements/beliefs are true if we look at each statement/belief and determine if they correspond to facts, cohere with the rules of the system, and result in useful application.