Talk (Work in Progress): Beinan Li (MCMP)

Title:

The Philosophical Implications of Tarski's Theory of Truth

Abstract:

I will explore the philosophical implications of Tarski's theory of truth, which mainly aims to resolve paradoxes and provide a precise framework for scientific use. Tarski's theory of truth remains open to various interpretations, such as correspondence, primitivism, and deflationary theories. However, philosophical inquiry into truth need not focus solely on metaphysical questions. While Tarski's formal results may have indirect implications for traditional philosophical issues, extending beyond his original intentions, his framework effectively explicates the concept of truth and enhances our cognitive and linguistic intuitions. It seems his concept of truth has deviated from our ordinary concept of truth, which is a key point of criticism by some philosophers. Nonetheless, this divergence does not imply that Tarski’s concept of truth lacks relevance to ordinary notions. Rather than simply “replacing” the old concept, it enriches our understanding by shedding light on the cognitive resources we already possess for grasping truth. In this way, formal definitions and results serve as idealized experiments,revealing the mechanisms and limits of our ordinary understanding of truth.