Truthlikeness

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Distance and Similarity

   • Ilkka Niiniluoto

   Pages 1-38

3. Logical Tools

   • Ilkka Niiniluoto

   Pages 39-102

4. Quantities, State Spaces, and Laws

   • Ilkka Niiniluoto

   Pages 103-121

5. Cognitive Problems, Truth, and Information

   • Ilkka Niiniluoto

   Pages 122-155

6. The Concept of Truthlikeness

   • Ilkka Niiniluoto

   Pages 156-197

7. The Similarity Approach to Truthlikeness

   • Ilkka Niiniluoto

   Pages 198-262

8. Estimation of Truthlikeness

   • Ilkka Niiniluoto

   Pages 263-289

9. Singular Statements

   • Ilkka Niiniluoto

   Pages 290-309

10. Monadic Generalizations

    • Ilkka Niiniluoto

    Pages 310-345

11. Polyadic Theories

    • Ilkka Niiniluoto

    Pages 346-371

12. Legisimilitude

    • Ilkka Niiniluoto

    Pages 372-405

13. Verisimilitude as an Epistemic Utility

    • Ilkka Niiniluoto

    Pages 406-441

14. Objections Answered

    • Ilkka Niiniluoto

    Pages 442-473

15. Back Matter

    Pages 474-525

    PDF

The modern discussion on the concept of truthlikeness was started in 1960. In his influential Word and Object, W. V. O. Quine argued that Charles Peirce's definition of truth as the limit of inquiry is faulty for the reason that the notion 'nearer than' is only "defined for numbers and not for theories". In his contribution to the 1960 International Congress for Logic, Methodology, and Philosophy of Science at Stan­ ford, Karl Popper defended the opposite view by defining a compara­ tive notion of verisimilitude for theories. was originally introduced by the The concept of verisimilitude Ancient sceptics to moderate their radical thesis of the inaccessibility of truth. But soon verisimilitudo, indicating likeness to the truth, was confused with probabilitas, which expresses an opiniotative attitude weaker than full certainty. The idea of truthlikeness fell in disrepute also as a result of the careless, often confused and metaphysically loaded way in which many philosophers used - and still use - such concepts as 'degree of truth', 'approximate truth', 'partial truth', and 'approach to the truth'. Popper's great achievement was his insight that the criticism against truthlikeness - by those who urge that it is meaningless to speak about 'closeness to truth' - is more based on prejudice than argument.

• Karl R. Popper
• argue
• decision theory
• idea
• identity
• logic
• methodology
• object
• philosophy
• pragmatics
• reason
• semantic
• singular
• structure
• truth

• Department of Philosophy, University of Helsinki, Finland

  Ilkka Niiniluoto

Policies and ethics