Week 10 - Truth and Language Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is validity in logic?
An argument is valid when the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion.
What does consistency mean in logic?
A set of propositions is consistent when it is logically possible for all of them to be true at the same time.
What is logical equivalence?
Two propositions are logically equivalent when the biconditional formed by them is logically necessary.
What is logical necessity?
A proposition is logically necessary if it is true in all possible worlds.
What is absolutism about truth?
Absolutism is the view that some propositions are true at all times and in all places, regardless of who believes them.
What is relativism about truth?
Relativism is the view that truth depends on perspective and that no one opinion is genuinely ‘right’.
What is a contradiction in relativism?
Saying ‘truth is just a matter of opinion’ becomes paradoxical if that statement is also just an opinion.
What is a sentence in philosophy of language?
A sentence is a meaningful sequence of words with a main verb.
What is syntax?
Syntax is the set of rules governing the structure of sentences, without considering meaning.
What is semantics?
Semantics concerns the interpretation of words and sentences—how language relates to the world.
What is semantic complexity?
Semantic complexity occurs when the meaning of a sentence depends on the meanings of its parts.
What are the three main types of sentences?
Declarative, Interrogative, and Imperative.
Which type of sentence is truth-apt?
Only declarative sentences are truth-apt—they can be true or false.
What is a proposition?
A proposition is the meaning or content of a declarative sentence that can be true or false.
What are indexicals?
Words like ‘I’, ‘now’, and ‘this’ whose meaning depends on context.
What is ambiguity in language?
Ambiguity is when a sentence or word has more than one possible interpretation.
What is lexical ambiguity?
Lexical ambiguity occurs when a single word has multiple meanings.
What is syntactic ambiguity?
Syntactic ambiguity arises when the structure of a sentence allows for more than one interpretation.
Why do philosophers use formal logic?
To eliminate syntactic ambiguity through precise structure and symbols.
What does the Correspondence Theory of Truth state?
A proposition is true if it corresponds to the facts.
What is a problem with the Correspondence Theory?
It’s unclear what facts are, especially negative ones or unverifiable facts.
What does the Coherence Theory of Truth state?
A proposition is true if it coheres with an ideal belief system.
What is a challenge to the Coherence Theory?
There might be multiple coherent belief systems, leading to relativism.
What does the Pragmatic Theory of Truth state?
A proposition is true if it is useful to believe it.
