Why Truth Matters for the Study of Religion: A Defense of a Truth-Conditional Semantics
Truth-conditional semantics holds that the meaning of a linguistic expression is a function of the conditions under which it would be true. This seems to require limiting meaningfulness to linguistic phenomena for which the question of truth or falsity is relevant. Criticisms have been raised that t...
| Published in: | Method & theory in the study of religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
[2018]
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| In: |
Method & theory in the study of religion
Year: 2018, Volume: 30, Issue: 4/5, Pages: 402-424 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Science of Religion
/ Truth
/ Semantics
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| RelBib Classification: | AA Study of religion AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism AG Religious life; material religion |
| Further subjects: | B
Interpretation of
B Davidson B Semantics B Religion B Meaning B Truth |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Truth-conditional semantics holds that the meaning of a linguistic expression is a function of the conditions under which it would be true. This seems to require limiting meaningfulness to linguistic phenomena for which the question of truth or falsity is relevant. Criticisms have been raised that there are vast swatches of meaningful language that are simply not truth-related, with religion representing a particularly rich and prevalent source. I argue that if the concept of truth as used in a truth-conditional semantics is understood in ways other than correspondence to fact, there are suitable reformulations of a truth-conditional semantics that may be appropriate for understanding religion. I further argue that these reformulations offer considerable methodological advantages to the scholar of religion. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0682 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Method & theory in the study of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700682-12341426 |