Primitive truth
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Dialectica
Publication Date
12-1-2013
Volume
67
Issue
4
First Page
503
Last Page
519
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
Abstract
Conceptual primitivism is the view that truth is among our most basic and fundamental concepts. It cannot be defined, analyzed, or reduced into concepts that are more fundamental. Primitivism is opposed to both traditional attempts at defining truth (in terms of correspondence, coherence, or utility) and deflationary theories that argue that the notion of truth is exhausted by means of the truth schema. Though primitivism might be thought of as a view of last resort, I believe that the view is independently attractive, and can be argued for directly. In this paper I offer what I take to be the strongest argument in favor of conceptual primitivism, which relies upon the Fregean doctrine of the omnipresence of truth.
DOI
10.1111/1746-8361.12041
Print ISSN
00122017
E-ISSN
17468361
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2014 The Author dialectica © 2014 Editorial Board of dialectica. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Asay, J. (2014). Primitive truth. Dialectica, 67(4), 503-519. doi: 10.1111/1746-8361.12041