True to Life: Why Truth Matters (MIT Press)

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Close mobile search navigation Article navigation. Why Truth Matters Julian Dodd. Grimm - - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 77 3: Christopher Cowie - - Synthese Truth, Value and Epistemic Expressivism. Lynch - - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 79 1: Why Truth Matters by Michael P. Lynch on the Value of Truth. Matthew McGrath - - Philosophical Books 46 4: Why Truth Matters — by Michael P.

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Edward Kanterian - - Philosophical Investigations 30 4: Richard Rorty - - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 71 1: MIT Press, , Pp. Cooper - - Philosophy 80 4: Truth as One and Many.

Lynch - - Clarendon Press. Dodd - - Mind Overall, I think he makes a convincing case that the pursuit of truth is necessary because it is both instrumentally good and because it is good for its own sake. I will not pretend to be able to restate his case but I will attempt to add a couple of other reasons why the pursuit of truth is good. First, lying can become a habit, one that can become more comfortable with the more it is practiced. This can lead to decline in other virtues and an increase in other vices.

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For example, the person who gets comfortable with lying about why they are home getting late from work, while perhaps initially for no bad reason, may soon be tempted to engage in some other wrongdoing during the time that now covered by the lie. Second, lying deprives, in a sense, other people of the opportunity to exercise other good character traits. For example, being honest about a harm caused gives the offended person the chance to exercise forgiveness, compassion and understanding.

Obviously that would not be the primary purpose of truth-telling, but the reality is that these characteristics are also ones that need introduction and practice for one to become "good" at them, as in to know when to exercise them properly.

True to Life: Why Truth Matters

That said, as a layperson, I found Lynch's book to be relatively easy to comprehend and appropriately challenging when the details called for it. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting a thorough understanding of the philosophical viewpoints on truth, both those that see it as a worthwhile pursuit, and those that do not. One person found this helpful 2 people found this helpful. A generally excellent book which gives a powerful argument for the importance of truth. There are a few points of discussion where I would have liked more details.

He touches on the idea that truth is different in different domains I was left wanting to more about this.

While he critiques pragmatism, it may be true that in certain domains the value of a concept is it's usefulness. Also of course there are areas of life where truth is clearly relative. If I say I like Mexican food, and you say Mexican foods is awful, who is right? Both are really stating the truth about their personal preferences. I would have liked more discussion of when truth is indeed relative, and stating that is my opinion is not just a way to avoid argument as Lynch suggests.

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