the pragmatic theory of truth

created by suidine

(idea) by suidine (1.9 mon) (print) ? (I like it!) Tue Feb 13 2001 at 16:30:14

Pragmatic theories of truth are best understood in the light of Charles S. Peirce's declaration: "...there is no distinction of meaning so fine as to consist in anything but a possible difference of practice". The above quote represents the claim that when one knows how an object will react to experimental handling, one has achieved a clear idea of that object. To say that a substance is hard is to say that it will not be scratched by other substances.

Peirce's criterion of meaning was pointed against traditional Cartesian subjectivism. As Peirce saw it, Descartes took an idea to be clear if it seemed clear to him, never considering the possibility that an idea may seem clear without really being clear. It is not surprising, therefore, that Peirce, in considering the meaning of truth, insisted on its public character, deploring the Cartesian view, according to which the individual judgement is the test of truth. He argued that metaphysical visions of truth and falsity that envisage them as something existing apart from the conduct of inquiry is wrong. Moreover, the doubt that impels scientific investigation is real, but its philosophical counterpart, Cartesian doubt, is an illusion.

Peirce's definition was an attempt to clarify truth as it shows up in the practice of inquiry. By defining truth as 'absolute fixity' of beliefe, Peirce set it apart from the fixed opinion of the scientific community, which is all that inquiry yields.

Peirce rejects Certecianism and opts for experimentalism which has three characteristics: 1. Denial of the idea that philosophy must begin with universal doubt; 2. The spirit of experimentalism denies that the ultimate test of certainty is to be found in the individual consciousnss; 3. Denial of the idea that a philosophical theory should be a single thread of inference, in the manner of Descartes.

(idea) by Glowin_Orb (2.8 y) (print) ? (I like it!) Tue Feb 13 2001 at 17:05:19

You want a pragmatic theory of truth?! Here:

Truth is the most reasonable explanation of a given phenomenon at a given time. In other words, truth is a function of time. It's what we choose to believe until something better (more reasonable) comes long.

There. Now, for free will...

printable version
chaos

Free will	Physics is the low-level language of the universe	Reality can only be predicted on a statistical basis	The truth shall set you free
Philosophical theories of truth	An Argument Against Pragmatic Critiquing	American Philosophy	blunted affect
pragmatic realism	The Second Noble Truth of Buddhism	Pragmatism, A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking	Linguistics
simple answers make me insane	plain and simple	Truth for Sale	The NoCal Super Layoff Unemployment Collecting BBQ Moonlit Bowling Noder Meet
poetry	My zen life with coffee	God Theory	Catholic girl theory
Pragmatism by William James: Lecture II: What Pragmatism Means	Mind and Truth	Participialize	philosophers

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