The Coherence Theory of Truth

Description: The Coherence Theory of Truth Quiz
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: epistemology philosophy of truth coherence theory
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What is the central idea of the coherence theory of truth?

  1. Truth is determined by the coherence of a belief with other beliefs.

  2. Truth is determined by the correspondence of a belief with reality.

  3. Truth is determined by the pragmatic consequences of a belief.

  4. Truth is determined by the authority of a tradition or institution.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

According to the coherence theory of truth, a belief is true if it coheres with other beliefs in a system of beliefs. This means that the belief is consistent with the other beliefs in the system and that it helps to support and explain those beliefs.

Which philosopher is most closely associated with the coherence theory of truth?

  1. Plato

  2. Aristotle

  3. Descartes

  4. Hegel


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher who lived from 1770 to 1831. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the development of the coherence theory of truth.

What is the main advantage of the coherence theory of truth?

  1. It is able to account for the fact that some beliefs are true even though they are not supported by evidence.

  2. It is able to explain how beliefs can change over time without losing their truth value.

  3. It is able to provide a foundation for a system of ethics.

  4. It is able to show that there is no such thing as objective truth.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The coherence theory of truth is able to account for the fact that some beliefs are true even though they are not supported by evidence because it does not require that beliefs be based on evidence in order to be true. Instead, the coherence theory of truth only requires that beliefs be consistent with other beliefs in a system of beliefs.

What is the main disadvantage of the coherence theory of truth?

  1. It is unable to account for the fact that some beliefs are true even though they are not supported by evidence.

  2. It is unable to explain how beliefs can change over time without losing their truth value.

  3. It is unable to provide a foundation for a system of ethics.

  4. It is unable to show that there is no such thing as objective truth.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The coherence theory of truth is unable to provide a foundation for a system of ethics because it does not provide any way to determine which beliefs are morally right or wrong. This is because the coherence theory of truth only requires that beliefs be consistent with other beliefs in a system of beliefs, and it does not require that beliefs be based on any moral principles.

Which of the following is an example of a belief that is true according to the coherence theory of truth?

  1. The Earth is flat.

  2. The sun revolves around the Earth.

  3. 2 + 2 = 4.

  4. God exists.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The belief that 2 + 2 = 4 is true according to the coherence theory of truth because it is consistent with other beliefs in a system of beliefs. For example, the belief that 2 + 2 = 4 is consistent with the belief that 1 + 1 = 2 and the belief that 3 + 1 = 4.

Which of the following is an example of a belief that is false according to the coherence theory of truth?

  1. The Earth is flat.

  2. The sun revolves around the Earth.

  3. 2 + 2 = 4.

  4. God exists.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The belief that the Earth is flat is false according to the coherence theory of truth because it is not consistent with other beliefs in a system of beliefs. For example, the belief that the Earth is flat is not consistent with the belief that the Earth is a sphere.

How does the coherence theory of truth relate to the correspondence theory of truth?

  1. The coherence theory of truth is a rival to the correspondence theory of truth.

  2. The coherence theory of truth is a complement to the correspondence theory of truth.

  3. The coherence theory of truth is a refinement of the correspondence theory of truth.

  4. The coherence theory of truth is a rejection of the correspondence theory of truth.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The coherence theory of truth and the correspondence theory of truth are two rival theories of truth. The coherence theory of truth holds that truth is determined by the coherence of a belief with other beliefs, while the correspondence theory of truth holds that truth is determined by the correspondence of a belief with reality.

Which of the following philosophers would be most likely to agree with the coherence theory of truth?

  1. Plato

  2. Aristotle

  3. Descartes

  4. Hegel


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Hegel would be most likely to agree with the coherence theory of truth because he believed that truth is determined by the coherence of a belief with other beliefs. This is in contrast to Plato, who believed that truth is determined by the correspondence of a belief with reality, and Aristotle, who believed that truth is determined by the evidence that supports a belief.

Which of the following philosophers would be most likely to disagree with the coherence theory of truth?

  1. Plato

  2. Aristotle

  3. Descartes

  4. Hegel


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Plato would be most likely to disagree with the coherence theory of truth because he believed that truth is determined by the correspondence of a belief with reality. This is in contrast to Hegel, who believed that truth is determined by the coherence of a belief with other beliefs, and Aristotle, who believed that truth is determined by the evidence that supports a belief.

Is the coherence theory of truth a form of relativism?

  1. Yes

  2. No


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The coherence theory of truth is a form of relativism because it holds that truth is relative to a particular system of beliefs. This means that what is true for one person or group of people may not be true for another person or group of people.

What are some of the implications of the coherence theory of truth?

  1. There is no such thing as objective truth.

  2. Truth is always changing.

  3. There is no way to know for sure whether a belief is true or false.

  4. All beliefs are equally valid.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

One of the implications of the coherence theory of truth is that truth is always changing. This is because the system of beliefs that a person or group of people holds can change over time. As the system of beliefs changes, so too does the set of beliefs that are considered to be true.

What are some of the criticisms of the coherence theory of truth?

  1. It is too vague and imprecise.

  2. It is unable to account for the fact that some beliefs are true even though they are not supported by evidence.

  3. It is unable to explain how beliefs can change over time without losing their truth value.

  4. It is unable to provide a foundation for a system of ethics.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the criticisms of the coherence theory of truth is that it is too vague and imprecise. This is because the coherence theory of truth does not provide any clear criteria for determining whether a belief is true or false. This makes it difficult to apply the coherence theory of truth to specific cases.

Has the coherence theory of truth been influential in contemporary philosophy?

  1. Yes

  2. No


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The coherence theory of truth has been influential in contemporary philosophy. This is because the coherence theory of truth offers a way to account for the fact that some beliefs are true even though they are not supported by evidence. This is an important issue in contemporary philosophy, as there are many beliefs that are widely held but that are not supported by evidence.

What are some of the contemporary philosophers who have defended the coherence theory of truth?

  1. Hilary Putnam

  2. Richard Rorty

  3. Donald Davidson

  4. Robert Brandom


Correct Option:
Explanation:

Hilary Putnam, Richard Rorty, Donald Davidson, and Robert Brandom are all contemporary philosophers who have defended the coherence theory of truth. These philosophers have argued that the coherence theory of truth is a viable alternative to the correspondence theory of truth and that it can account for the fact that some beliefs are true even though they are not supported by evidence.

What are some of the challenges that the coherence theory of truth faces in contemporary philosophy?

  1. The problem of relativism

  2. The problem of skepticism

  3. The problem of dogmatism

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The coherence theory of truth faces a number of challenges in contemporary philosophy. These challenges include the problem of relativism, the problem of skepticism, and the problem of dogmatism. The problem of relativism is the challenge of showing how the coherence theory of truth can avoid the conclusion that all truth is relative to a particular system of beliefs. The problem of skepticism is the challenge of showing how the coherence theory of truth can provide a foundation for knowledge. The problem of dogmatism is the challenge of showing how the coherence theory of truth can avoid the conclusion that all beliefs are equally valid.

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