On Truth

by Simon Blackburn

Overview

Truth is not just a recent topic of contention. Arguments about it have gone on for centuries. Why is the truth important? Who decides what the truth is? Is there such a thing as objective, eternal truth, or is truth simply a matter of perspective, of linguistic or cultural vantage point? In this concise book Simon Blackburn provides an accessible explanation of what truth is and how we might think about it. The first half of the book details several main approaches to how we should think about, and decide, what is true. These are philosophical theories of truth such as the correspondence theory, the coherence theory, deflationism, and others. He then examines how those approaches relate to truth in several contentious domains: art, ethics, reasoning, religion, and the interpretation of texts. Blackburn's overall message is that truth is often best thought of not as a product or an end point that is 'finally' achieved, but--as the American pragmatist thinkers thought of it--as an ongoing process of inquiry. The result is an accessible and tour through some of the deepest and thorniest questions philosophy has ever tackled

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190867232
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/01/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	365 KB

About the Author

Simon Blackburn was previously the Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. He is currently a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and also Professor of Philosophy at UNC Chapel Hill. His previous works include Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy and Practical Tortoise Raising and other Philosophical Essays.

Table of Contents

Preface Part I: The Classic Approaches 1. Correspondence 2. Coherence 3. Pragmatism 4. Deflationism 5. Tarski and The Semantic Theory of truth 6. Summary of Part I Part II: Varieties of enquiry 7. Truths of Taste; Truth in Art 8. Truth in Ethics 9. Reason 10. Religion and Truth 11. Interpretations Notes Further investigations Index

Editorial Reviews

"Mr. Blackburn displays a rare combination of erudite precision and an ability to make complex ideas clear in unfussy prose." —Wall Street Journal, Julian Baggini

"Excellent, concise ... essential reading for scholars and novices alike." —Library Journal

"On Truth is a fun, short primer on the concept of truth and arguments around it." —Shelf Awareness

"Classic Simon. Well written, engaging, erudite, and accurate. This guide to truth is just what we need in the age of 'fake news'" —Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Duke University, author of Think Again: How to Reason and Argue

From the Publisher

03/15/2018
Blackburn (Distinguished Research Professor, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy) offers an excellent, concise, and relatively accessible introduction to philosophical theories of truth. The text is divided into two sections: Part 1 presents an engaging and thorough look at five classic theories of truth, while Part 2 considers truth in religion, ethics, and other difficult topics. While reminiscent of James Rachels's The Elements of Moral Philosophy, the major difference between the two volumes is their treatment of threats to their subject. Most moral philosophers assume there are universal moral truths, but Rachels devotes early chapters to dissenting theories—cultural relativism and subjectivism—noting their strengths before turning to their (overwhelming) weaknesses. Blackburn does something similar in his preface, discussing and rejecting the idea of a posttruth society, despite recent U.S. and UK politics. Similar to Rachels, Blackburn concludes this is not a genuine threat to his subject, but unlike Rachels, this discussion feels like an afterthought. This reviewer would have liked to see chapters on posttruth and antirealist theories early in the text, if only to drive more nails in their coffins. VERDICT Substantive and nuanced, this is essential reading for scholars and novices alike. Highly recommended.—William Simkulet, Mid-Michigan Community Coll., Mt. Pleasant, MI

Library Journal

2018-04-11
A pragmatic primer on a contentious topic.A distinguished philosophy professor in both his native England and the United States, Blackburn (Mirror, Mirror: The Uses and Abuses of Self-Love, 2014, etc.) aims his analysis at general readers, but it requires close attention and willingness to follow the reasoning, which is steeped in centuries of philosophical inquiry. And inquiry is very much the point here, because even if we can never agree on absolute truth, or even the possibility of it, the author maintains that having a process of inquiry by which we can get closer to it, and agree on its utility and social value, is not only possible, but crucial. "Living outside the reality-based community is not actually an option," writes the author, while acknowledging that the Trump era has some thinkers postulating that we have entered a brave new world of post-truth and alternate facts. He continues, "the basic reason why the concept of truth will never die is that to believe anything at all is itself to take a stand on its truth." We acknowledge the truth of a speeding train as it hurtles toward our car at the crossing and of the hot stove that might burn us if we touch it. Beyond such basics, are there truths upon which we can agree? Here we turn to process and to consensus and how general agreement on general principles can promote welfare. "Sometimes we have to settle for mere opinion or guesswork, but the god of truth is better served by attendant deities, such as reason, justification and objectivity," writes Blackburn. "Once we have it, truth radiates benefits such as knowledge and, perhaps most notably, success in coping with the world." In the second half of the book, the author shows how arts criticism, ethics, and religion might even approach their own kinds of "truth."A slim volume that offers as much clarity on the topic as one could expect from the often opaque world of philosophy.

Kirkus Reviews