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A Critique Of Wiredu’s Concept Of Truth
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 7]
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In the exact and reputable science of
pure mathematics and related science, the logical text for truth,
according to the coherent epistemology, is a statement cohering with
some other propositions, and ultimately with the anxious of its own
system. In this text which is not merely practical one, for a
proposition to cohere with other proposition is for it’s to be
logically deducible from them. And this coherence is what calling a
proposition true means. For instance, the metaphysical supporter of
this theory argue that we would not even understand, much less known
the truth or falsity of a statement about something blue, if blue were
divorced in our thought from all the colours in the spectrum to which
it is related by likeness and difference, all the shades within its own
range and all the definition it possess in virtue of being thought of
as quality rather than as substances or a relation.23
Further not only would we know the truth of such a statement, but it
also cannot be properly said to have its meaning of t4ruth value
independently of its relation to other statement.
Still
within the framework of the coherence theory of the truth, we have the
notion of the doctrine of degree of truthâ€. The doctrine states
that if the truth of any d given statement is bound up with and
can only be seen with the truth of all the statement of the system, and
this is bound up with the whole system, then individual statement as
such, are only partly false and only the whole system is wholly true.
Hence, Braddly asserts: truth must exhibit the mark of expansion and
all inconclusiveness.24
Although no conclusive evaluation
of this theory is intended, I shall now proceed and attempt to final
out the amount of compatibility that obtains between this theory of
truth and that of Wiredu and then proceed to point out the basic
theory.
Given the fact that we are not involving in any
sort of extensive evaluation here, it will now begin to appear that
thought Wiredu may not be rightly conceived as an absolute coherent
, his theory to a great extent is sympathetic to most of the tenets
inherent in the coherence epistemology. The problem I shall involve
myself is now would be to point out the basic flows which inhere in
this theory.
The fatal defect of the coherence theory of
truth according to Reuben Abel, is that “There is no way to locate a
coherent system d of proposition to realityâ€25 Astrology constitute s
a coherent system, so the delusions of the psychotic, so does
geometry, yet we do not take them to be true. Moreover, the growth of
science often shatters existing coherent system.
Newton’s
geo centricism, kepler’s helio centricism, Darwinian evolution,
Eintainmean relatively, all over threw established systems.
Hence, the vary idea of a completely coherent system begins to
appear absurd and need d a radical modification. thus, although we take
coherence as a requirement for truth, it does not suffice as a
definition for truth. This is because of the simple reason according to
Bertrand Russell, that there appears to be competing reason to
believe that only one coherent body of belief is possible.26 as Ayer
succinctly puts it: there may be any number of systems of statements,
each of which is internally consistent, but any two of which are
incompatible with one anotherâ€.27
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 7]
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