Single Idea 3972

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

Full Idea

The basis on which the concepts of truth and objectivity depend for application is a community of understanding, agreement among speakers on how each is to be understood.

Gist of Idea

Truth and objectivity depend on a community of speakers to interpret what they mean

Source

Donald Davidson (Davidson on himself [1994], p.233)

Book Reference

'A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Guttenplan,Samuel [Blackwell 1995], p.233


A Reaction

Obviously all understanding is, in practice, an interpretation by a community, but that isn't what 'truth' means. We mean 'true independently of any community'.