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Single Idea 19145

[filed under theme 3. Truth / F. Semantic Truth / 1. Tarski's Truth / b. Satisfaction and truth ]

Full Idea

Truth is easily defined in terms of satisfaction (as Tarski showed), but, alternatively, satisfaction can be taken to be whatever relation yields a correct account of truth.

Gist of Idea

We can explain truth in terms of satisfaction - but also explain satisfaction in terms of truth

Source

Donald Davidson (Truth and Predication [2005], 2)

Book Ref

Davidson,Donald: 'Truth and Predication' [Belknap Harvard 2005], p.34


A Reaction

Davidson is assessing which is the prior 'primitive' concept, and he votes for truth. A perennial problem in philosophy, and very hard to find reasons for a preference. The axiomatic approach grows from taking truth as primitive. Axioms for satisfaction?

Related Ideas

Idea 19146 Satisfaction is a sort of reference, so maybe we can define truth in terms of reference? [Davidson]

Idea 19147 Truth is the basic concept, because Convention-T is agreed to fix the truths of a language [Davidson]