Single Idea 8868

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 5. Objectivity]

Full Idea

The source of the concept of objective truth is interpersonal communication.

Gist of Idea

Objective truth arises from interpersonal communication

Source

Donald Davidson (Three Varieties of Knowledge [1991], p.209)

Book Reference

Davidson,Donald: 'Subjective, Intersubjective, Objective' [OUP 2001], p.209


A Reaction

This is a distinctively Davidsonian idea, arising out of Wittgenstein's Private Language Argument. We could go a step further, and just say that 'objectivity is a social concept'. Davidson more or less pleads guilty to pragmatism in this essay.