THEORIES OF TRUTH
PHIL 352, Sec. 1001: MW 11:30am-12:45pm in CBC C235
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Fall 2018
Professor: James Woodbridge
email address:
Course Webpage: http://jwood.faculty.unlv.edu/unlv/Phil352F18.htm
Office Hours: M 2:30pm-4pm, T 12:30pm-2pm, and by appointment
Office: CDC 426
Office Phone: 895-4051
Dept. Phone: 895-3433
SECOND PAPER TOPICS
Pick one of following topics and write a 6-8 page/1800-2400 word paper fulfilling the tasks assigned.
Do not use any outside sources: just the course readings and discussion, and your own thinking.
Your paper is due via WebCampus, through the Turnitin.com program linked to the Assignment listing there, by noon, Wednesday 12/5. The file that you send me for your paper should have the following format for its filename: yourstudentnumber.PHIL352F18.paper2.docx (or whatever file extension). Your name should not appear anywhere on your paper. Be sure you send me an editable file (like a .docx or .doc file, not a .pdf file).
Topics:
1. One of the central distinctions among theories of truth is that between Realist and Non-Realist views. The latter views are also sometimes called "Anti-Realist", and in class I classified them as Epistemic Theories of truth. What are the central factors of the distinction being drawn here, that is, what are the definitive features of each side of this distinction, with respect to how they understand truth? Alston attempts to argue in favor of a Realist view (first of the conception of truth, and from there to Realism about the property of truth), while Putnam argues against Realism about truth (related to what he calls "Externalism" in philosophy) and in favor of Non-Realism (or what he calls "Internal Realism", related to the philosophical perspective he calls "Internalism"). Russell can be read as explicitly arguing for a Realist view of truth, while Blanshard, Peirce, and James can be read as arguing for (different) Non-Realist views. In your own words, reconstruct the arguments on both sides of this issue, being sure to make contact with and cite the relevant readings that have been assigned in the class. Then argue for one side over the other by considering the presuppositions and consequences of the positions (as discussed in Alston and Putnam in particular, but also as they emerge in the other readings, e.g., the Walker paper). You will also find useful discussion of the issue in Kirkham, Ch. 3 and Lynch, pp. 9-15, 99-102, and 185-191.
2. A distinction within theorizing on the topic of truth that has garnered a lot of recent attention is one between traditional or "inflationist" theories of truth and what is now called a "deflationist" approach to the topic. Explain the central ideas of inflationism about truth, being sure to make clear how it includes both correspondence/realist theories and epistemic theories. Then explain the central ideas of deflationism, making clear the sense in which it is not really about the same thing as inflationism, yet it stands opposed to all traditional theories of truth. Strawson, Ramsey, Grover, Quine, and Horwich all present various deflationary positions. In your own words, briefly summarize the main tenets of the different versions of deflationism (Note: some of the above theorists hold basically the same view), then pick one of them as the best deflationist option. Be sure to give reasons for thinking it is the best version of this approach. Devitt, Gupta, and Alston all present criticisms of deflationism. In your own words again, summarize the central concerns they raise for the approach (or at least for particular versions of it), and then examine how well your preferred version of deflationism stands up to these challenges. Finally, present arguments for whether, in the end, we should we adopt some inflationist approach to truth (if so, which one?), or we should be deflationists. You will also find useful discussion of the issue in Kirkham, Ch. 10 and Lynch, pp. 421-431.
Be sure to look at my Paper Requirements and Policies.
Keep your paper within the page limit!