Philosophy of Language · The nature of truth

Correspondence Theory of Truth

A true statement matches the way the world actually is.

What it claims

Correspondence theory holds that a statement is true because it corresponds to reality, independently of our ability to verify it. It rejects treating verification, coherence, or usefulness as truth's essence, as well as deflationism's denial of a substantial nature to analyze. The possibility of error motivates it: everyone could share a coherent, useful belief that is nevertheless false.

Nearby positions

Key thinkers

Alfred Tarski · Bertrand Russell · J. L. Austin · G. E. Moore · Ludwig Wittgenstein