Katechismus

Questions 112

Theories of truth:

Correspondence theory – traceable to Plato and Aristotle, 4^th & 5^th century B.C.; also found in Thomas Aquinas, William of Occam, early Bertrand Russell

Simply stated – a belief is true when there is a corresponding fact, and is false when there is no corresponding fact. Important: there is a relationship between propositions and reality.

Coherence theory – “product” of rationalism, found in 17^th century Spinoza & Liebniz, 18^th century G. F. Hegel and consequently Marx

Simply Stated – a proposition or belief is true to the degree that it coheres with other propositions or beliefs. Coherence – logical, orderly and consistent relation of parts. Important: there is no relationship (necessarily) between propositions and reality.

Deflationary theory – (aka the Redundancy theory, no-truth theory); origin of the theory is credited to Gottlob Frege (1848-1925) German mathematician and philosopher

Simply Stated – “It is worthy of notice that the sentence "I smell the scent of violets" has the same content as the sentence "It is true that I smell the scent of violets." So it seems, then, that nothing is added to the thought by my ascribing to it the property of truth. (Frege, 1918)”

Taken to its logical conclusion: For the postmodernist, there are no metanarratives, no universals that apply cross-culturally and throughout history. Words and statements only refer to other words and have no direct connection with reality which is only a social construct, anyway. In light of all this, it is fruitless to search for truth or expect that it can be found.

The progression from correspondence theory to deflationary theory is only possible when belief in a transcendent God is abandoned. It is God who provides the metanarrative, who establishes certain universals that apply to all cultures throughout all time.

ἀληθής 166 times in NT

Since in the practice of history, and in historical and philosophical enquiry, it is essentially the task of the λόγος to reveal and indicate, ἀλήθεια can also denote an aspect of the λ́γος which is proper to this as ἀπόφανσις [disclosure] to the extent that it causes that which is to be seen. TDNT, Original Greek Usage

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

The plain teaching of Scripture is that objective truth exists and it is knowable. In fact, the Word of God living and written are truth. If this is true, then what must our attitude and approach toward truth be?

Let us discuss them both, but first of all the truthful man. We are not speaking of the man who keeps faith in his agreements, i.e., in the things that pertain to justice or injustice (for this would belong to another virtue), but the man who in the matters in which nothing of this sort is at stake is true both in word and in life because his character is such. But such a man would seem to be as a matter of fact equitable. For the man who loves truth, and is truthful where nothing is at stake, will still more be truthful where something is at stake; he will avoid falsehood as something base, seeing that he avoided it even for its own sake; and such a man is worthy of praise. He inclines rather to understate the truth; for this seems in better taste because exaggerations are wearisome. Aristotle, Nicomachaean Ethics, 350 B.C.

Compare David:

Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:103-104 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Likewise Moses:

Numbers 35:30 Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.

Deuteronomy 17:6 Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15 "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

Consider how God in Scripture characterizes Satan:

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him [Elymas] and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

If we would pursue righteousness, we must pursue truth in our thoughts, speech and actions, taking care to uphold and preserve truth. We must strive to ascertain the truth before making judgments; we must endeavor to convey the truth accurately and precisely; we must behave in an honest and upright way.

For further research:

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth-correspondence/

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth-coherence/

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/truth-deflationary/

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lormand/phil/teach/k&r/readings/Truth%20%5BInternet%20Encyclopedia%20of%20Philosophy%5D.htm

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/postmodernism.html