Philosophy A Glioice Magazine "Outstanding Academic Book for 1996" pinating treatment of alethie realism aya and a major contribution to the philosophical investiga n of truth, book will sive many philosophers from the multitude of confusions hieraiure on cruth.” Paul K. Moser, Loyola University of Chicago ° Fasily the most penetrating and comprehensive analysis and critique of anti-realist theories of truth available, along with a vigorous defense of the realist account. With the publication of William Alston's book, the com= ao mon dismissal of the correspondence theory of truth as outmoded has surrenit philosoph in current philosophic itself become outmoded!” Nicholas Wolterstorff, Yale Divinity School “From the standpoint of both general readers and professionals in the hs x field this may be one of the best philosophical books to come along in : some time. Alston argues effectively for a conception of truth—he calls it >. B ‘minimal realism’—currently out of fishion. His chins are presented. od = = through a remarkably clear and accurate history of recent epistemology d metaphysics as these bear on a philosophical account of truth... THe shed only by [those] of the great philosophers with whom he contends—Choice | | depth, the scope, aiid the clarity of Alston's analysis [2re] ma WILLIAM P. ALSTON is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Syracuse University, He is the author of several books, including The Reliability of Sense Perception, also from Cornell Cornell Paperbacks Cornell University Press JN ee eee 040 ag gue romereyere© gb Camel Unies AM ght reserved, Escep Ho be quan i a evi, thst, oF pass there, nt st erence ih ae fort wit piss in writing toon the pair, Fa ign, kde Carnell Uninc Pres, Sige ae 512 Fis State Steet dara, New York 1850 Fist published qo be Cornell Unie ras Byese Fire printing, Connell Paperbacks. ety Prints inthe United States a Atri Library of Cangies Cataloging in Publication Date Asn. in ‘rc cece al Wika Pn ae Ils biog ses ana i ISBN eon gi okt a pape ISN tose hes pera paper) Truth 2 Reali, Kavelge Thea oft Uae Garnell Unisersig: Bese ties 1 ae enitonmestally responsible spies anaes the alle este pate he pbs, hs, Sls Hertel yexetaehased, foe OC ths tnd entice pape et ae reese tall cio pal ompanedl in nonsontibe. Bowks that bet ae log a He FSC (aves Stenselip Cane i use paper eae at Hest have Ten inspecies an cess x cing the highest anaes enivnnmental sd socal expos Fw farther ifosmnato ‘rebates wosenelpres corel % Cah pring wg BB ED - rbackprining 10 For Hugh Fleetwood, true friendCONTENTS Preface Inxoduction 1 Alethic Realism # Preliminary Formatation 5 Braves of Truth Value: Sentences: 9 1H Bearers of Truth Value: Statements and Beliofs 13 iv Bearers of Truth Value: Propositions 15 © The Nature of Propositions 17 vf General Formulations of a Realist Conception of Tiuth 22 vit Propositonel Truth and the TSchema 26 vii: Relation to Tarski 30 ix Minimalism abot Truth 32 4 Minimalist Realism and the Comaspondence Theory 37 8 Minimal Realism aod “Deflationary” Accounts of Truth 41 i: Objections to the Minimal Realist Acco of Truth 52 2 Alethie Realism and Metaphysies! Reulisiy 1 Metaphysical Antiveatiom: lat Denials 65 i Metaphysical Antiealism: Reductions 69 sik Realism and Idealism 73 65