Truth: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to philosophical theories about the nature of truth. The two authors – leading philosophers in this field – build the book around a single question: what, if anything, is common to all truths, which makes them true? The book explores five important answers (‘theories’) to the given question: correspondence, semantic, verifiability, transparency, and plurality. For each given theory, the following questions are addressed:
- What is the theory’s answer to the central question?
- What is the basic motivation behind that answer?
- What is a precise argument for that answer?
- What are the biggest objections to that answer?
- What are a few good resources for understanding more about the theory?
An additional chapter provides an extensive introduction to the notorious liar paradox. Truth: The Basics is an ideal starting point for anyone seeking a lively and accessible introduction to the rich and complex philosophical study of truth.
Key Features:
- Written in a clear and concise fashion
- Clearly explains five major theories of truth for an uninitiated readership of undergraduate students and general readers
- Prepares the reader to tackle more advanced work in truth studies
- Makes connections between truth and other areas of philosophy, including the philosophy of language, semantics, metaphysics, logic and epistemology
- Includes technical appendices for more advanced readers
1. Introduction
1.1 The Central Question
1.2 Shape of the Central Question and the Sort of Answers
1.3 Necessary Background Issues for the Central Question
1.4 Plan of the book
1.5 Chapter Summary
2. Correspondence
2.1 Answer to the Central Question
2.2 Motivation
2.3 Argument for the Correspondence Answer
2.4 Evaluation
2.5 Chapter Summary
3. Semantic
3.1 Answer to the Central Question
3.2 Motivation
3.3 Argument for the Semantic Answer
3.4 Evaluation
3.5 Chapter Summary
4. Verifiability
4.1 Answer to the Central Question
4.2 Motivation
4.3 Argument for the Verifiability Answer
4.4 Evaluation
4.5 Chapter Summary
5. Transparency
5.1 Answer to the Central Question
5.2 Motivation
5.3 Argument for the Transparency Answer
5.4 Evaluation
5.5 Chapter Summary
6. Plurality
6.1 Answer to the Central Question
6.2 Motivation
6.3 Argument for the Plurality Answer
6.4 Evaluation
6.5 Chapter Summary
7. Paradox
7.1 Introduction
7.2 The Liar, More Precisely
7.3 Solutions Which Accept the Liar Ingredients
7.4 Solutions Which Reject a Liar Ingredient
7.5 A Theory of Entailment
7.6 Chapter Summary
8. Final Score Card
9. Glossary
Appendices
Biography
Jc Beall holds the O’Neill Family Chair in Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. Beall’s principal work is on truth, paradox, logic, and related issues. His publications include Logical Pluralism (2005), Spandrels of Truth (2009), and Formal Theories of Truth (2018). In addition, Beall is the author of Logic: The Basics (Routledge, 2017).
Ben Middleton has held postdoctoral positions in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame and North Carolina State University. His published papers include work on nonclassical logic and the semantic paradoxes.
“Overall, this is an excellent book. It is an overview of the main issues and theories surrounding the nature of truth. It is thus a good introduction to the metaphysics of truth. It is exceptionally clear and does a very impressive job in surveying a great deal of material in an accessible way. It can be read by people with little or no background, and it will get them up to speed on a central topic, very quickly.” —Michael Glanzberg, Rutgers University
