Single Idea 6083

[catalogued under 3. Truth / D. Coherence Truth / 2. Coherence Truth Critique]

Full Idea

If 'snow falls from the sky' is true iff it coheres with other beliefs, this is a form of idealism; snow could surely fall from sky even if there were no beliefs in the world to cohere with each other.

Gist of Idea

The coherence theory of truth implies idealism, because facts are just coherent beliefs

Source

Colin McGinn (Logical Properties [2000], Ch.5)

Book Reference

McGinn,Colin: 'Logical Properties' [OUP 2003], p.89


A Reaction

The coherence theory of truth strikes me as yet another blunder involving a confusion of ontology and epistemology. Of course, idealism may be true, but I have yet to hear a good reason why I should abandon commonsense realism.