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Single Idea 10840
[filed under theme 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 2. Defining Truth
]
Full Idea
For a particular bounded language, if it is free of ambiguity and inconsistency, it must be possible to characterize the true sentences of the language; somewhat as, for a given game, we can say which moves are winning moves.
Gist of Idea
We must be able to specify truths in a precise language, like winning moves in a game
Source
Michael Dummett (Truth [1959], p.237)
Book Ref
'The Nature of Truth', ed/tr. Lynch, Michael P. [MIT 2001], p.237
A Reaction
The background of this sounds rather like Tarski, with truth just being a baton passed from one part of the language to another, though Dummett adds the very un-Tarskian notion that truth has a value.
The
29 ideas
with the same theme
[question of whether truth can be defined, and how]:
8821
|
Jesus said he bore witness to the truth. Pilate asked, What is truth?
[John]
|
4736
|
Truth is such a transcendentally clear notion that it cannot be further defined
[Descartes]
|
19070
|
Superficial truth is knowing how something is, which is consciousness of bare correctness
[Hegel]
|
21793
|
Genuine truth is the resolution of the highest contradiction
[Hegel]
|
22092
|
Kierkegaard's truth draws on authenticity, fidelity and honesty
[Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
|
19466
|
The word 'true' seems to be unique and indefinable
[Frege]
|
6710
|
You can only define a statement that something is 'true' by referring to its functional possibilities
[James]
|
19178
|
Definitions of truth should not introduce a new version of the concept, but capture the old one
[Tarski]
|
19177
|
A definition of truth should be materially adequate and formally correct
[Tarski]
|
19186
|
A rigorous definition of truth is only possible in an exactly specified language
[Tarski]
|
19194
|
We may eventually need to split the word 'true' into several less ambiguous terms
[Tarski]
|
16295
|
Tarski proved that truth cannot be defined from within a given theory
[Tarski, by Halbach]
|
15342
|
Tarski proved that any reasonably expressive language suffers from the liar paradox
[Tarski, by Horsten]
|
19069
|
'True sentence' has no use consistent with logic and ordinary language, so definition seems hopeless
[Tarski]
|
10153
|
In everyday language, truth seems indefinable, inconsistent, and illogical
[Tarski]
|
18731
|
There is no theory of truth, because it isn't a concept
[Wittgenstein]
|
10840
|
We must be able to specify truths in a precise language, like winning moves in a game
[Dummett]
|
23295
|
Truth cannot be reduced to anything simpler
[Davidson]
|
19160
|
A comprehensive theory of truth probably includes a theory of predication
[Davidson]
|
18542
|
Defining truth presupposes that there can be a true definition
[Scruton]
|
18365
|
If truths are just identical with facts, then truths will make themselves true
[David]
|
22301
|
The Identity Theory says a proposition is true if it coincides with what makes it true
[Potter]
|
18486
|
We might define truth as arising from the truth-maker relation
[MacBride]
|
15374
|
Truth has no 'nature', but we should try to describe its behaviour in inferences
[Horsten]
|
16293
|
Traditional definitions of truth often make it more obscure, rather than less
[Halbach]
|
16324
|
Any definition of truth requires a metalanguage
[Halbach]
|
16301
|
If people have big doubts about truth, a definition might give it more credibility
[Halbach]
|
15647
|
Truth definitions don't produce a good theory, because they go beyond your current language
[Halbach]
|
19125
|
If we define truth, we can eliminate it
[Halbach/Leigh]
|