Reading Notes—Hughes & Lavery, Critical Thinking—Chapter 6
6.1
1.
Theories of Truth
Describe the correspondence theory of truth.
2.
Describe one objection to the correspondence theory of truth.
3.
What is an empirical fact?
4.
What is an empirical statement?
5.
Describe the coherence theory of truth.
6.
What objection to the correspondence theory of truth is the coherence
theory designed to handle?
7.
Describe the pragmatic theory of truth.
8.
Describe an objection to the pragmatic theory of truth.
9.
Your authors write, "Our brief examination of these three theories of truth
has led us to the following conclusions." Write those conclusions.
6.2
Types of Truth-Claims
[Be aware of the use of these terms: verified, falsified, undetermined.]
10.
What is the difference between a particular and a general empirical
statement?
11.
List and describe two types of general empirical statement.
a.
b.
12.
List five types of non-empirical truth claim.
a.
b
c.
d.
e.
6.3
Acceptability
13.
According to your authors, what is "the first question we need to ask about
a truth-claim"?
[6.4
Self-Test]
[6.5 Questions for Discussion]
6.6
Assessing the Acceptability of Premises
[Be familiar with this material and the example given (capital punishment).]
6.7
14.
Some Particular Fallacies
List and describe the four fallacies discussed in this section.
a.
b.
c.
d.