ФИЛОСОФИЯ. Философия науки

Doctor of Philosophy, professor Rakhmatullin R.Yu.

Truth as epistemological category

Bashkir State Agrarian University, Russia

The concept of truth has many meanings. This article deals only with the scientific concept of truth. In contemporary philosophy of science there are three definitions of the truth:

1. Classic (correspondent) definition.

Its origins are in the "Metaphysics" Aristotle. He said that is a true statement that expresses what it actually is [1, p. 250]. In the Soviet philosophy of this definition was: "The truth - the knowledge that corresponds to reality". Soviet philosophers do not recognize the other definitions of truth. But it turned out that there is a lack of this definition: how to determine the suitability of the knowledge of reality, if there is any information about the fact that we are given in the form of knowledge about it. This problem (matching knowledge of reality) was the object of analysis of representatives of positivism, which offered another definition of truth. It is called a coherent concept of truth.

2. Coherent definition.

It is based on the premise does not contradict the knowledge of one kind to another. It is considered a true knowledge of objects that do not conflict with other knowledge (or knowledge of others) about it. For example, if a large group of physicists came to the unanimous conclusion that the atom has a nucleus, this statement should be called true. Or: if the knowledge gained theoretically confirmed human sensory experience, such knowledge is also called true. In this case we arrive at the following definition of truth: "The truth - the knowledge, consistent with other knowledge". This definition is consistent with the Marxist thesis about the practice as the main criterion of truth: In this case we are talking about are not contradictory theoretical knowledge empirical knowledge. But not only empirical, but also other range of knowledge: theoretical, philosophical, sensual. Such an understanding of the truth is best suited for scientific knowledge. However, in epistemology, there is another interpretation of the truth, when truth is understood by the object itself, its essence.

3. Essentialist definition of truth.

Proponents of this concept believe that every object has the same qualities, which can be characterized as the truth. Basics such an understanding of the truth we find already in Plato, who believed things material objectification ideas of eternal spiritual essence. We think that this understanding of truth is close and the concept of "collective unconscious" of C.G. Jung, which we previously wrote [2, p. 83-114; 3]. In modern philosophy this view came to be called the ontological concept of truth. She, in particular, protects Professor V.S. Khaziev [4].

In the Russian philosophy of common opinion about the existence of the pragmatic concept of truth. Many Russian philosophers wrote that supporters of the philosophy of pragmatism consider true only useful knowledge. We believe that this is not so: no representative of pragmatism as claimed. They offer only shift the problem to the attention of human knowledge of the truth to the more important issue: its effectiveness. The founder of pragmatism, Charles Peirce argues that important for us to solve the problems facing us, "soothe" themselves [5]. It is much more important than finding out the truth of any information. In fact, besides the properties of truth and falsity, knowledge and inherent properties such as efficiency and inefficiency. Often determine the effectiveness of the knowledge of its significance in solving human problems is more important than establishing its truth. According to Pearce and other representatives of pragmatism, any science is needed to help a person to solve important problems. In fact, why, for example, there was veterinary medicine? Obviously, due to the fact that there was a problem disease of domestic animals need to be treated so that they are healthy, but the man did not suffer losses.

The opposite of truth is a delusion. Misconception be distinguished from falsehood. Lies - is the deliberate distortion of the truth. Therefore, a person who is mistaken, is not a liar. The opposite of truth is a delusion. And the opposite of such a lie is the truth that man is not afraid to tell. Therefore, this truth contains a moral component. It is morally valuable truth.

It is also necessary to distinguish between true knowledge and right knowledge. The knowledge may be correct, but untrue. Properly called knowledge, which corresponds to the logical rules or specific instructions. For example, the document may be correct, but does not correspond to reality. It happens in science: the theory of communism was correct, but the practice has demonstrated the failure of the communist society and its ideals.

And one more remark. The truth is a process. She has the ability to change. All truth is relative. This means that it can be supplemented, corrected. But she also possesses the property of absolute. This means that it contains the knowledge that with time can not be changed. Therefore, the truth is the unity of the absolute and relative knowledge.

We must not forget that the truth is the evaluation of the quality of knowledge. A true knowledge determines a person. Therefore, every truth contains a subjective component.

Literature:

1. Aristotle. Works. In 4 t. T. 1. M., 1976. 550 p.

2. Rakhmatullin R.Yu. Ontologize images in scientific knowledge: the genesis and function: diss. ... Dr. Philosophy sciences. Ufa, 2000. 276 p.

3. Rakhmatullin R.Yu. Ahistorical metaphysical basis in law // The young scientist. 2013. № 11. P. 549-552.

4. Khaziev V.S. Truth of being and knowing. Ufa: Kitap, 2007. 287 p.

5. Peirce Ch. S. Principles of philosophy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1931.