PHL 301 1st Edition Lecture 32Outline of Last Lecture I.Critique of KantII.HistoricismIII.Dynamic PrinciplesIV.Social Character of ThoughtOutline of Current LectureI.PeirceII.HolismIII.Science aims at a stable beliefIV.Objections to coherence theoryCurrent Lecture Founded by Peirce, Pragmatism is the “American Theory.” The Pragmatic Theory of Truthis that there is no difference in meaning without difference in practice. The traditional view of Aristotle’s categories relies on the correspondence theory of truth: thoughts are true when theycorrespond with the world. While this theory contends that science is what aims at the truth, Holism, a Pragmatic theory, says the opposite. According to Holism, parts are explained in terms of wholes. For example, what is a heart? It is part of the body. Coherence Theory, from which Holism is derived, says to stop taking facts seriously because a sentence/belief is only true if it coheres with a comprehensive theory of the world. Francis Bradley even states that facts are a vicious abstraction. In Holism, we cannot evaluate knowledge claims without context. To assess a truth, we have to see how it fits into the overall picture. We determine the context of an idea by what difference it makes in practice.Peirce changes Hegel’s view by replacing mysterious dynamic principles with the scientific method. He uses the idea of limit of inquiry to define truth, arguing that science aims at a stable belief. Truth is then coherence with ideal limit of scientific inquiry. It is what science agrees upon.There are some objections to coherence theory, though. Truth would be circular. Also, could there be more than one comprehensive, coherent system of beliefs? For example, the These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Lord of the Rings series is very comprehensive and coheres nicely, but that doesn’t mean it matches
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