Social Domains of Truth : Science, Politics, Art, and Religion

Truth is in trouble. In response, this book presents a new conception of truth. It recognizes that prominent philosophers have questioned whether the idea of truth is important. Some have asked why we even need it. Their questions reinforce broader trends in Western society, where many wonder whether or why we should pursue truth. Indeed, some pundits say we have become a "post-truth" society. Yet there are good reasons not to embrace the cultural Zeitgeist or go with the philosophical flow, reasons to regard truth as a substantive and socially significant idea. This book explains why. First it argues that propositional truth is only one kind of truth—an important kind, but not all important. Then it shows how propositional truth belongs to the more comprehensive process of truth as a whole. This process is a dynamic correlation between human fidelity to societal principles and a life-giving disclosure of society. The correlation comes to expression in distinct social domains of truth, where either propositional or nonpropositional truth is primary. The final chapters lay out five such domains: science, politics, art, religion, and philosophy. Anyone who cares about the future of truth in society will want to read this pathbreaking book. Truth is in trouble. In response, this book presents a new conception of truth. It recognizes that prominent philosophers have questioned whether the idea of truth is important. Some have asked why we even need it. Their questions reinforce broader trends in Western society, where many wonder whether or why we should pursue truth. Indeed, some pundits say we have become a “post-truth” society. Yet there are good reasons not to embrace the cultural Zeitgeist or go with the philosophical flow, but to regard truth as a substantive and socially significant idea. This book explains why. First it argues that propositional truth is only one kind of truth—an important kind, but not all-important. Then it shows how propositional truth belongs to the more comprehensive process of truth as a whole. This process is a dynamic correlation between human fidelity to societal principles and a life-giving disclosure of society. The correlation comes to expression in distinct social domains of truth, where either propositional or nonpropositional truth is primary. The final chapters lay out five such domains: science, politics, art, religion, and philosophy. Anyone who cares about the future of truth in society will want to read this pathbreaking book. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Preface 10 Abbreviations and Citations 15 1 Introduction: Truth Is Not a Minted Coin 18 1.1 On the Very Idea of Truth 18 1.2 Kinds and Domains of Truth 26 1.3 Holistic Alethic Pluralism 34 2 Propositional Truth: Facts and Propositions 43 2.1 Facts and States of Affairs 44 2.2 Beliefs and Propositions 47 2.3 Decontextualized Disclosure 57 3 Accurate Insight and Inferential Validity 74 3.1 Knowledge and Propositions 74 3.2 Truth of Propositions 80 3.3 Propositional Truth and Objective Knowledge 84 4 Alethic Pluralism 91 4.1 Functionalism: Michael Lynch 91 4.2 Practical Pluralism 95 4.3 Social Domains of Truth 106 5 Propositional Truth and Discursive Justification 114 5.1 Alston’s Minimal Alethic Realism 115 5.2 Putnam’s Internal Realism 122 5.3 Post-anti/realism 131 6 Truth as a Whole and Authentication 139 6.1 Isomorphism, Fidelity, and Disclosure 139 6.2 Kinds and Types of Truth 149 6.3 Bearing Witness to Truth 155 6.4 Modes of Authentication 161 7 Truth and Science 174 7.1 Science as a Social Domain 175 7.2 Scientific Realism and Theoretical Truth 185 7.3 Science in Society 201 8 Truth and Politics 222 8.1 Hannah Arendt: Speaking Truth to Power 222 8.2 Michel Foucault: Linking Power to Truth 227 8.3 Political Truth 237 9 Truth in Art and Religion 248 9.1 Artistic Truth 249 9.2 Art and Politics 257 9.3 Religious Truth 263 9.4 Religion and Science 275 10 Philosophy, Truth, and Wisdom 285 10.1 Art, Religion, and Philosophy 286 10.2 Truth and Historicity 292 10.3 Social Critique and Practical Wisdom 303 Bibliography 319 Index 334