back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 18351

[from 'An essentialist approach to Truth-making' by E.J. Lowe, in 3. Truth / B. Truthmakers / 2. Truthmaker Relation ]

Full Idea

If a proposition is 'made' true, it has to be true 'in virtue of' something, meaning a relationship of metaphysical explanation. Thus a true proposition must have truth conferred on it in some way that explains how it gets to be true.

Gist of Idea

Propositions are made true, in virtue of something which explains its truth

Source

E.J. Lowe (An essentialist approach to Truth-making [2009], p.202)

Book Reference

'Truth and Truth-Making', ed/tr. Lowe,E.J./Rami,A. [Acumen 2009], p.202


A Reaction

It is good to ask what we mean by 'makes'. I like essentialist explanations, but this may be misplaced. Observing that y makes x true seems to be rather less than actually explaining how it does it. What would such explanations look like?