F. The Value of Truth

THE VALUE OF
Introductory question:
Do you believe that you are

rational?
When you reason, you find an
explanation adequate to prove that what
you believe is true.
Topics Covered:
 The Nature of Belief

 The Nature of Truth
A. The Nature of Belief
Belief
As defined by the Oxford Dictionary, refers to the acceptance that a
statement is true or that something exists
It is considered as a firmly help opinion or conviction.
Synonymous with the term opinion

Conception of belief in contemporary period extends to include the
forms of representation of belief:
QUALITATIVE FORM
- “ The table is wooden” is the qualitative form of the said belief because
it refers to the quality of the object of your belief.
On the other hand the degree of your belief that “ the table is wooden “
is higher than the degree of your belief that
QUANTITATIVE FORM
- “ The table will last for the next ten years” is the quantitative form
because it refers to the quantitative character ( represented by the
length of time it will last) of the object of your belief.
Philosophers are also concerned about the object of beliefs.
Some philosophers claim that believing as a propositional
attitude is directed towards the propositions or statements
about the object of belief.
For example: If you believe that the color of the table is
periwinkle instead of violet, your belief is directed to the
proposition which represents the object of your belief: “ The
color of the chair is periwinkle”.
The structure of the belief is S believes that P is true, where S
is the person and P is the representation of the belief.
-Another example on the next slide.
“ Lilly believes that she is in Batangas City”
In the example, Lilly is the agent S who has a mental

state or attitude toward what represent the conditions
that she is in Batangas. In the structure of belief
mentioned earlier, the variable P, as the representation
of her belief, must state the truth conditions that will
make Lilly believe that she is, indeed, in Batangas.
Thus, for Lilly to believe, she has to know the truth conditions that
will ascertain what she comprehends or affirms. IN THIS CASE,
THE TRUTH CONDITION is represented by the proposition
“ Lilly is situated 112 kilometers South of Rizal’s monument in

Luneta.”
IF THIS SITUATION IS OBTAINED, then
Lilly can AFFIRM her BELIEF.

REFLECTION QUESTION:
What are your beliefs? Choose one belief that you

are most convinced about (that which you have the
highest degree of confidence in). Determine the
reasons why you believe in it as you do.
B. The Nature of Truth
Guide questions:
1. What is truth?
2. How would you determine if your beliefs are true?

What
Whatis
is Truth?
Truth?
•Truth is closely connected to

knowledge and belief
•“The contemplation of truth
and beauty is the proper
object for which we were
created” William Hazlett
THEORIES OF
TRUTH
The Correspondence Theory of Truth
The Coherence Theory of Truth
The Pragmatic Theory of Truth

The
Correspondence
Theory of Truth
The Correspondence Theory of
Truth
It states that the key to truth is the relation (or
correspondence) between propositions and the world. This
means that “ a belief is true if there exist an appropriate entity
– A FACT – to which it corresponds.

There is a water fountain in front of the
cultural center of the Philippines.
The correspondence theory compares the given proposition and the truth
conditions or state of affairs that will make the proposition true. Thus, for
the above proposition to be true, there must be a fact in the world
where:
 there is such a thing as a water fountain
 there is a place called Cultural Center of the Philippines
 the water fountain is in front of the cultural center of the Philippines.

The Coherence
Theory of Truth
The Coherence Theory of Truth
It states that the truth of any (true) propositions consists in its coherence
with some specified set of propositions (or significant wholes). This
means that the truth conditions of a proposition are based on other
propositions (as opposed to the correspondence theory of truth where
the truth conditions are based on facts or objective features of the world.
In simple terms, the Coherence theory of truth insists that a belief is true
if and only if it is part of a coherent system of beliefs.
The sum of half of six is thirteen
½ (6) + 10= 13
3+10=13
13=13
The given mathematical equation is true by virtue of the coherence theory of truth
because the system of belief is coherent with it; that is , the answer 13 arrived at and
recognized as coherent in connection with other several contents of arithmetic where
the rules of additions and multiplication of fractions are acceptable operations.
Consider this next example:
One and one is zero.
1+1=0, carry 1
In simple arithmetic, the second equation is false because it does not

cohere with the significant wholes of simple arithmetic.
However, in binary arithmetic , the said proposition is true because the

binary system recognizes the number 1 and zero only.
The coherence theory of truth is not a CRITERION for truth but the
nature of truth itself. Unlike the correspondence theory of truth, which
looks for the world to provide facts mirrored in proposition, truth is a
matter of how beliefs are related to each other.

The Pragmatic
Theory of Truth
The Pragmatic Theory of Truth
It holds that a proposition is true if it is useful to
believe. Thus, utility is the essential mark of truth.
Truth is arrived at based on beliefs that lead to
the best “payoff” that give the ultimate benefit or
advantage that promote success
A dream board is necessary for dreams to
come true.
The given proposition is true if it leads to success- that is, if it is
expedient for the person to believe that his or her dreams will come
true with visualization.
If on the other hand, people that visualization is unnecessary for

achieving a dream or goal, then it will not be expedient to create a
dream board; therefore, the given proposition will be considered FALSE
According to the Pragmatists, there are no
absolute and unchanging truths. A statement is
true if it is useful to believe it.

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THE VALUE OF

Do you believe that you are

 The Nature of Belief

It is considered as a firmly help opinion or conviction.

Synonymous with the term opinion

In the example, Lilly is the agent S who has a mental

“ Lilly is situated 112 kilometers South of Rizal’s monument in

IF THIS SITUATION IS OBTAINED, then

Lilly can AFFIRM her BELIEF.

What are your beliefs? Choose one belief that you

2. How would you determine if your beliefs are true?

•Truth is closely connected to

The Coherence Theory of Truth

The Pragmatic Theory of Truth

It states that the key to truth is the relation (or

correspondence) between propositions and the world. This

means that “ a belief is true if there exist an appropriate entity

– A FACT – to which it corresponds.

 there is such a thing as a water fountain

 there is a place called Cultural Center of the Philippines

 the water fountain is in front of the cultural center of the Philippines.

In simple arithmetic, the second equation is false because it does not

However, in binary arithmetic , the said proposition is true because the

nature of truth itself. Unlike the correspondence theory of truth, which

looks for the world to provide facts mirrored in proposition, truth is a

matter of how beliefs are related to each other.

If on the other hand, people that visualization is unnecessary for

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