Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 95 | Liam Kofi Bright on Knowledge, Truth, and Science
May 4, 2020
Liam Kofi Bright is a philosophy professor at the London School of Economics, specializing in logic and scientific method. He tackles the complex nature of truth, discussing theories like correspondence, coherence, and deflationism. The conversation critically examines the scientific method, emphasizing the need for experiential learning and addressing the replication crisis. Bright advocates for rethinking peer review and highlights how biases and demographic factors shape scientific understanding, urging for a more inclusive approach to knowledge.
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Philosophical vs. Scientific Views of Truth
- Philosophers debate truth differently than most people, often viewing it as explaining common sense.
- Scientists are averse to calling their findings "truth", preferring a more nuanced view.
Deflationary Theory of Truth
- Deflationism suggests truth is a linguistic tool for streamlining conversations, not a metaphysical concept.
- Saying "X is true" is simply restating "X".
Analytic vs. Synthetic Truths
- Analytic truths are true by definition, while synthetic truths depend on the world.
- Kant argued some synthetic truths are a priori, known through reason alone, like space's Euclidean structure.