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Single Idea 6258

[filed under theme 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 3. Value of Truth ]

Full Idea

The distinctive mark of the Truth we hold ought to be virtue, which is the most exacting mark of Truth, the closest one to heaven and the most worthy thing that Truth produces.

Gist of Idea

Virtue is the distinctive mark of truth, and its greatest product

Source

Michel de Montaigne (Apology for Raymond Sebond [1580], p.0493)

Book Ref

Montaigne,Michel de: 'The Complete Essays', ed/tr. Screech,M.A. [Penguin 1987], p.493

A Reaction

A long way from Tarski and minimalist theories of truth! But not so far from pragmatism. Personally I think Montaigne is making an important claim, which virtue theorists should be attempting to incorporate into their theory. Aristotle would sympathise.

The 14 ideas from Michel de Montaigne

7496 Rules and duties are based on the will, as that is all we control [Montaigne]
23122 Montaigne was the founding father of liberalism [Montaigne, by Gopnik]
20479 People at home care far more than soldiers risking death about the outcome of wars [Montaigne]
20480 There is not much point in only becoming good near the end of your life [Montaigne]
20481 Nothing we say can be worse than unsaying it in the face of authority [Montaigne]
20482 Virtue inspires Stoics, but I want a good temperament [Montaigne]
7495 Apart from the fear, dying is an easy duty [Montaigne]
6258 Virtue is the distinctive mark of truth, and its greatest product [Montaigne]
6259 Why can't a wise man doubt everything? [Montaigne]
6260 Sceptics say there is truth, but no means of making or testing lasting judgements [Montaigne]
6261 The soul is in the brain, as shown by head injuries [Montaigne]
6262 We lack some sense or other, and hence objects may have hidden features [Montaigne]
6263 No wisdom could make us comfortably walk a wide beam if it was high in the air [Montaigne]
22269 We must fight fiercely to hang on to the few pleasures which survive into old age [Montaigne]