more from Donald Davidson

Single Idea 19153

[catalogued under 3. Truth / H. Deflationary Truth / 1. Redundant Truth]

Full Idea

Truth is one of the clearest and most basic concepts we have, so it is fruitless to dream of eliminating it in favor of something simpler or more fundamental.

Gist of Idea

Truth is basic and clear, so don't try to replace it with something simpler

Source

Donald Davidson (Truth and Predication [2005], 3)

Book Reference

Davidson,Donald: 'Truth and Predication' [Belknap Harvard 2005], p.55


A Reaction

For redundancy theorists, I suppose, truth would be eliminated in favour of 'assertion'. Replacing it with 'satisfaction' doesn't seem very illuminating. Davidson would say 'reference' is more tricky and elusive than truth.