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Truthlikeness

  • Book
  • © 1987

Overview

Authors:
  1. Ilkka Niiniluoto

    1. Department of Philosophy, University of Helsinki, Finland

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Part of the book series: Synthese Library (SYLI, volume 185)

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  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
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Keywords

About this book

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.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, University of Helsinki, Finland

    Ilkka Niiniluoto

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Truthlikeness

  • Authors: Ilkka Niiniluoto

  • Series Title: Synthese Library

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3739-0

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland 1987

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-90-277-2354-3Published: 31 March 1987

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-010-8170-2Published: 25 December 2011

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-009-3739-0Published: 06 December 2012

  • Series ISSN: 0166-6991

  • Series E-ISSN: 2542-8292

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVII, 525

  • Topics: Logic, Theoretical Linguistics, Mathematical Logic and Foundations

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