more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 5417

[filed under theme 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 7. Falsehood ]

Full Idea

A good theory of truth must be such as to admit of its opposite, falsehood.

Gist of Idea

A good theory of truth must make falsehood possible

Source

Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch.12)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.70

The 7 ideas with the same theme [how to understand failures to be true]:

19072 In the deeper sense of truth, to be untrue resembles being bad; badness is untrue to a thing's nature [Hegel]
24075 Convictions, more than lies, are the great enemy of truth [Nietzsche]
4548 Only because there is thought is there untruth [Nietzsche]
18305 To love truth, you must know how to lie [Nietzsche]
16477 Asserting not-p is saying p is false [Russell]
5417 A good theory of truth must make falsehood possible [Russell]
21623 True and false are not symmetrical; false is more complex, involving negation [Williamson]