Theories of Truth and Justification

The following best describes which theory?

Surely there must be some foundational beliefs which need no further justification beyond themselves. These will then be the basic beliefs on which all others are built.

• Reliabilism

• Foundationalism

• Coherentism

The following best describes which theory?

There is no ultimate basic certainty – we must therefore allow the regress to continue indefinitely. What makes a belief justified is that it coheres – or fits in with – all other belief we have. The better a belief fits in with the rest of our belief system, the better justified it is.

• Reliabilism

• Foundationalism

• Coherentism

The following best describes which theory?

Much of our knowledge is based on justifications to which we ourselves don’t have conscious access. This is acceptable. We originally acquired our beliefs by some reliable method and they generally work. Reliable sources may include testimonies by other people, our own memories, sense perceptions and reasoning.

• Foundationalism

• Coherentism

• Reliabilism

The following best describes which theory?

Demands that our proposition matches or corresponds with an observable fact in the real world. May seem obvious or trivial, but it was a powerful force behind the Scientific Revolution that resulted in our modern way of looking at the world.

• Correspondence Theory

• Coherence Theory

• Pragmatic Theory

The following best describes which theory?

Would it be reasonable to assume ‘x’ given all the other circumstances? Does it seem likely that ‘x’ is true given all the other relevant facts that we are certain of? A proposition needs to fit with what you already know to be considered true.

• Pragmatic Theory

• Coherence Theory

• Correspondence Theory

The following best describes which theory?

For now at least, it suits you to believe the truth of that proposition. This theory gives us tentative truth rather than a definite truth. It provides a practical solution to work with. It asks you to consider whether a proposition ‘works’ and whether or not it is ‘useful’ for it to be true or not.

• Correspondence Theory

• Coherence Theory

• Pragmatic Theory