The Revision Theory of Truth (Bradford Books)

The Revision Theory of Truth (Bradford Books)
Anil Gupta,Nuel Belnap | 1993-03-18 00:00:00 | The MIT Press | 313 | Philosophy

In this rigorous investigation into the logic of truth Anil Gupta and Nuel Belnap explain how the concept of truth works in both ordinary and pathological contexts. The latter include, for instance, contexts that generate Liar Paradox. Their central claim is that truth is a circular concept. In support of this claim they provide a widely applicable theory (the "revision theory") of circular concepts. Under the revision theory, when truth is seen as circular both its ordinary features and its pathological features fall into a simple understandable pattern.

The Revision Theory of Truth is unique in placing truth in the context of a general theory of definitions. This theory makes sense of arbitrary systems of mutually interdependent concepts, of which circular concepts, such as truth, are but a special case.

Anil Gupta is Professor of Philosophy at Indiana University. Nuel Belnap is Alan Ross Anderson Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh.
Reviews
or those without a background in formal logic. Gupta and Belnap expand their revision theory of truth, available scattered in various papers and referenced by others, in this book.

The book begins with a relatively straight-forward explanation of why they feel the theory is needed and they provide some layman's explanations for the theory. Most of the remainder of the book will be incomprehensible to those without a good background in formal logic. Belnap and Gupta delve deeply into the theoretical framework of their theory and some of its implications.

Although this book is good for those interested in the theory a reader more interested in the general concepts of truth being pursued within the philosophical community will be better served by borrowing a copy of Kirkham's excellent "Theories of Truth" from a local library. Also recommended are some of Varzi and Casati's papers, notably "True and False: an Exchange", available on-line from their websites.

Good reference for a graduate studying theories of truth and logic; not much use for anyone else.

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