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Full Idea
The correspondence of proposition and fact grows increasingly complicated as we pass to more complicated types of propositions: existence-propositions, general propositions, disjunctive and hypothetical propositions, and so on.
Clarification
A disjunction is 'either/or'; a hypothetical begins with 'if'
Gist of Idea
Propositions of existence, generalities, disjunctions and hypotheticals make correspondence tricky
Source
Bertrand Russell (On Propositions: What they are, and Meaning [1919], §IV)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'Logic and Knowledge', ed/tr. Marsh,Robert Charles [Routledge 1956], p.319
A Reaction
An important point. Truth must not just work for 'it is raining', but also for maths, logic, tautologies, laws etc. This is why so many modern philosophers have retreated to deflationary and minimal accounts of truth, which will cover all cases.
Related Ideas
Idea 7395 Truth as congruence may work for complex beliefs, but not for simple beliefs about existence [Joslin on Russell]
Idea 4742 Correspondence may be one-many or many one, as when either p or q make 'p or q' true [Armstrong]
| 5778 | If we object to all data which is 'introspective' we will cease to believe in toothaches [Russell] |
| 5779 | There are distinct sets of psychological and physical causal laws [Russell] |
| 5781 | Our important beliefs all, if put into words, take the form of propositions [Russell] |
| 5782 | A proposition expressed in words is a 'word-proposition', and one of images an 'image-proposition' [Russell] |
| 5780 | The three questions about belief are its contents, its success, and its character [Russell] |
| 5783 | Propositions of existence, generalities, disjunctions and hypotheticals make correspondence tricky [Russell] |
| 5784 | In its primary and formal sense, 'true' applies to propositions, not beliefs [Russell] |
| 5777 | The truth or falsehood of a belief depends upon a fact to which the belief 'refers' [Russell] |
| 5776 | A proposition is what we believe when we believe truly or falsely [Russell] |