Three Theories of Truth

Title: Three Theories of Truth
Author: Bertrand Russell, Bland Blanshard, C.S. Peirce, William James, James Dewey
Class: Theory of Knowledge
Category: In Class



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            The authors have come to conclude that there are three theories of truth-correspondence theory, coherence theory and pragmatic theory. They state that we use these theories to categorize what we think to be true as actually being true or just a thought. Correspondence theory of truth includes information we are able to sense and measure. Russell states that because we are able to sense and observe these things, they are correspondent to reality and therefore be true. Blanshard’s idea of the coherence theory of truth states that if there are true arguments supporting a new idea, the new idea must be true. It uses logic to explain why it is true and therefore uses rational thinking. It is frequently used in subjects such as math and science to explain why such theories are true.  Philosophers supporting the pragmatic theory of truth such as Peirce, James and Dewey state that this theory explains things as being true if people want to believe it as being true. We see pragmatic theory being practiced in our daily activities. Take medicine for example. People take medicine because they think that it will cure them. But does it really? Or do they think it works because they want it to work and because of this, they believe that it works? Is it really the medicine that cured them? Or do they just feel better because they believe that the medicine has cured them?

            All of these theories are practiced throughout our lives whether we are aware of it or not. But do all of these theories necessarily all truth? Is it truth at all? What is truth? The definition of the word “truth” is as follows: a fact that has been verified. How do we know if something is necessarily true? How do we know the verification of the truth is valid? Are these theories enough to know whether something is true or not? Is the word “truth” just an idea or does it really exist?