UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY:
THEORIES OF TRUTH

PHIL 402, Sec. 003: W 2pm-4pm in 1164 Angell Hall
The University of Michigan
Winter 2005




Instructor: James Woodbridge
email address: jwood@umich.edu
Course Webpage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jwood/umich/Phil402.htm
Office Hours: T 2pm-3:30pm, W 1pm-2pm, and by appointment
Office: 2200 Angell Hall
Office Phone: 615-6537
Dept. Phone: 764-6285


FIRST PAPER INSTALLMENT

Pick one of following topics and write a 5-7 page paper fulfilling the tasks assigned.

Your paper is due in the dropbox by 3pm on Monday, February 14th.

Topics:

There are three options for this paper. They all have the same starting point. In his introduction to the section on correspondence theories of truth, Lynch points out that such a theory must spell out three things, "what has the property of truth (the truth bearers), its correspondence (the truth relation), and the 'reality' to which it corresponds (the truth maker)." Your first task is to explain in your own words how a theory must understand these things and their relations to each other in order to count as a correspondence theory of truth. The idea is to get at what is distinctive about this type of view. This should take about 1.5 pages. Your next task is where the three paper options diverge. Having discussed the three aspects in general, focus on one of them and explain what the different options are for a correspondence theorist with respect to that part of a theory of truth. Here you should go into detail about the articles we have read. Focusing on truth bearers, you should discuss Austin, Strawson, David, and Alston. If you focus on the truth relation, you should discuss Russell, Austin, David, and Alston. A focus on the truth maker should include consideration of Russell, Austin, Strawson, and David. For each focus you should try to get these different authors in dialogue with one another and explain the differences between them on the issue in question. Be sure to include specific citations to the various articles, but even when citing, try to say things in your own words as much as you can. This part should take about 3 pages. After covering your focus in detail, discuss which option for that aspect of a theory you think makes the most sense for a correspondence account, and explain why. You should include some consideration of the implications your choice would have for what a correspondence theorist would then have to say about the other aspects of his theory. This should be about 1 page. Finally, take about 1.5 pages to discuss what you think is the biggest challenge facing a correspondence theory of truth. What would it take to meet this challenge? Do you think this challenge can be met? Why or why not?


Be sure to look at my Paper Requirements and Policies.

Keep your paper within the page limit!