← Knowledge universe

I — What Is Truth?

Six theories of truth, and why the fight matters

Correspondence, coherence, pragmatic, consensus, constructivist and deflationary accounts — each answering a different question about what 'true' does.

Epistemic status · Philosophical

Correspondence

A statement is true when it matches how things are. Intuitive, and the working assumption of empirical science — but it presumes we can compare belief with reality without using more beliefs.

Coherence

A statement is true when it fits without contradiction into a whole system. Powerful in mathematics; dangerous alone, because an elaborate delusion can be perfectly coherent.

Pragmatic

A statement is true when acting on it works reliably over time. Useful for engineering and medicine; risky where something can work for the wrong reason.

Why you need all of them

In practice a well-supported belief corresponds to observation, coheres with other knowledge, works when applied, and survives criticism from people who wanted it to fail.

Practice

Take one belief you hold and test it separately against correspondence, coherence and consequence.

TEST A BELIEF

Next

The full loop: from question to revised theory