more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 5783

[catalogued under 3. Truth / C. Correspondence Truth / 1. Correspondence Truth]

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 Reference

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]