Exam 29: William James: The Pragmatic Theory of Truth

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -According to James, truth has nothing to do with the good.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James says that an idea cannot be true simply because it is useful.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James says that true ideas are those that we can assimilate, validate, corroborate, and verify.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James declares that truth lives on a credit system.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James says that truth is one species of good.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -According to James, pragmatism asks

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -The validation of an idea refers to

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James says that the overwhelming majority of our ideas can be verified.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James thinks it is not possible to apply his theory of truth to morality.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -According to James, the pragmatic method is to interpret each notion by

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -According to James, the popular notion of truth is that

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -Almost all philosophers are in agreement with James's theory of truth.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James asserts that the possession of true thoughts means everywhere the possession of invaluable instruments of action.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James says the pragmatic method is a way to settle metaphysical disputes.

In this reading James sets forth his view of truth. He holds that truth is dynamic rather than static and is to be defined in terms of beliefs that are useful or satisfying. Unlike the "intellectualists" (James's characterization of the traditional static approaches to the question of truth, i.e., the correspondence theorists), truth is in process-still becoming and changing. Yesterday's truth is today's falsehood, and today's truth is tomorrow's half-truth. What really matters is what you can do with an idea, what difference it makes to your life, its (in James's term) "cash-value." -James believes that truth is something that happens to an idea.