Single Idea 18972

[catalogued under 3. Truth / D. Coherence Truth / 1. Coherence Truth]

Full Idea

Pragmatists say that ideas (which themselves are but parts of our experience) become true just in so far as they help us to get into satisfactory relation with other parts of our experience.

Gist of Idea

Ideas are true in so far as they co-ordinate our experiences

Source

William James (Pragmatism - eight lectures [1907], Lec 2)

Book Reference

James,William: 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' [Dover 1995], p.23


A Reaction

I'm struck by the close similarity (at least in James) of the pragmatic view of truth and the coherence theory of truth (associated later with Blanshard). Perhaps the coherence theory is one version of the pragmatic account