Theories of Validity of Knowledge
Definition:
Validated
or justified knowledge — knowledge backed with evidence — is called truth.
Purpose of Theories of Truth:
They aim to answer:
1. What
is truth?
2. How to
know the truth?
We check whether propositions or beliefs are true or
false by:
- Definitional
route: Defining “is true” to qualify a
proposition.
- Criterial
route: Justifying the application of “is true”
based on certain criteria.
1. Nature of Truth
- Similar
to asking: What is the underlying nature of gold? — Is it about the
property of being gold or the factual details about gold?
- Example:
- Definitional
route → “Gold” = element with atomic number 79.
- Criterial
route → Criteria (like solubility in Aqua Regia) must be met to call
something “gold”.
- In
philosophy, we often lack empirical access to truth like we have
with gold, so criterial route is preferred.
2. Theories Using Criterial Route
Main types:
1. Correspondence
Theory of Truth
2. Pragmatic/Utility
Theory of Truth
3. Semantic
Theory of Truth
4. Deflationary
Theories
2.1 Correspondence Theory of
Truth
Concept:
A proposition is true when it agrees with reality (facts match
statements).
- Example:
“Delhi is the capital of India” is true because it corresponds to fact.
Philosophers:
- St.
Thomas Aquinas: Truth = agreement between intellect and
reality.
- Bertrand
Russell: Beliefs are true/false based on whether
they correspond to states of affairs.
Types:
1. Correspondence
as Congruence → Every truth bearer (proposition) matches a
real state of affairs.
2. Correspondence
as Correlation → Structural match between truth bearer &
fact (like puzzle pieces fitting).
2.2 Pragmatic/Utility Theory of
Truth
Concept:
Truth is determined by practical success — what works is true.
Truth is linked to human experience and usefulness.
Philosophers:
- Charles
Peirce: Truth = belief that would ultimately be
agreed upon after sufficient investigation.
- William
James: Truth = usefulness + verification.
“Something is useful because it is true, and true because
it is useful.”
- John
Dewey: Ideas are plans for action, true if they
solve problems effectively.
2.3 Semantic Theory of Truth
Philosopher: Alfred Tarski
(1901–1983)
Concept:
Truth is defined in terms of semantic concepts like “satisfaction” using
formal logic/mathematics.
- Adequate
definition:
“X is true if and only if p” (where X = sentence, p = proposition).
Example: “‘Snow is white’ is true if and only if snow is white.”
Key Points:
- Limits
truth definition to formal languages (math, logic) — avoids
ambiguity of natural language.
- Argues
that truth = satisfying specific criteria.
2.4 Deflationary Theories
Concept:
Truth has no deep nature — saying “it is true that roses are red” is just
another way of saying “roses are red.”
- No
need to explain truth via correspondence or coherence.
Main Views:
- Frank
Ramsey’s Redundancy Theory: “is true” is
unnecessary.
- P.F.
Strawson’s Performative Theory: Saying “it is true” is
like a performative act, not a factual claim.
- Quine’s
Disquotation Theory: “It is true that p” = p.
- Minimalism:
No more to truth than asserting something.
In summary, the theories of validity demonstrate that knowledge is not merely a collection of facts, but a justified belief filtered through different lenses—whether it mirrors reality (Correspondence), functions effectively (Pragmatic), or satisfies logical structures (Semantic). For an educator, these theories confirm that "truth" in a classroom is multidimensional, requiring a balance between teaching objective facts and encouraging practical, problem-solving skills. Ultimately, understanding these philosophical foundations allows teachers to move beyond rote memorization, helping students develop a critical framework to verify and apply knowledge in the real world.
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