Transcript Bertrand Russell (1872

Bertrand Russell
(1872-1970)
From The Problems of Philosophy (1912)
Truth
& Falsehood
Knowledge, Error, & Probable Opinion
The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge
(Text, 439-451)
Under construction – as of 9/1/08
Introduction
 Russell’s
philosophical work
 Russell’s political activism
 The content & purposes of The
Problems of Philosophy
Truth & Falsehood (439-433)

How are we to distinguish between true beliefs and false beliefs? (269)
– This is not the same as asking what beliefs are true and what beliefs are
false. The question is, what do we mean by truth and falsity?
– We need a theory of truth.

A satisfactory theory of truth must meet three requirements (269-71):
– It must include a theory of falsity (the opposite of truth).
– It must recognize that truth and falsity are properties of beliefs.
– It must acknowledge that the truth or falsity of a belief is completely
dependent on the relation of the belief to something outside of the belief
itself.
Truth & Falsehood, cont’d

R’s defense of the correspondence theory of truth as opposed to the
coherence theory of truth.
– The correspondence theory: truth as correspondence of belief with fact
(& falsity as non-correspondence of belief with fact)
– The coherence theory: A belief is true when it coheres [is consistent]
with the body of our beliefs; and a belief is false when it fails to cohere
[is inconsistent ] with the body of our beliefs.
– R’s criticisms of the coherence theory


There is no proof that there is only one coherent system of beliefs. In fact,
it seems that, in various fields, there is more than one coherent body of
beliefs.
The concept of coherence is based on the laws of logic (e.g., the law of
non-contradiction); but the laws of logic “themselves cannot be established
by this [the coherence] test.”
– “For the above two reasons, coherence cannot be accepted as giving the
meaning of truth, though it is often a most important test of truth after a certain
amount of truth has become known.” What does this mean? Explain.
Truth & Falsehood, cont’d

In order to make
clear the distinction
between truth and
falsity, Russell now
focuses on the
relations that beliefs
can have to things
outside of
themselves.

Belief cannot be a
relation between the
mind and a single
object. Why not?
Knowledge, Error, & Probable Opinion
 To
be continued….
(443-447)
The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge
 To
be continued….
(447-451)
Summary
 To
be continued….