Single Idea 13942

[catalogued under 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 5. Truth Bearers]

Full Idea

The current fashion among logicians of taking sentences to be the bearers of truth and falsity indicates less an agreement on philosophical theory than a desire for rigor and smoothness in calculative practice.

Gist of Idea

Logicians take sentences to be truth-bearers for rigour, rather than for philosophical reasons

Source

Richard Cartwright (Propositions [1962], 01)

Book Reference

Cartwright,Richard: 'Philosophical Essays' [MIT 1987], p.33


A Reaction

A remark close to my heart. Propositions are rejected first because language offers hope of answers, then because they seem metaphysically odd, and finally because you can't pin them down rigorously. But the blighters won't lie down and die.