What is Truth - Comparison of Plato and Peirces Philosophy :: essays research papers

What is Truth?For thousands of years, mankind has persistently pursued true statement, friendship, and understanding. For most, this pursuit is a driving force which usually doesnt end until angiotensin converting enzyme finds a lawfulness that is satisfying to him or her. Even then, however, one whitethorn choose to look for an alternate truth that may be tear down more satisfying to them. This pursuit does not always follow the kindred path for everyone as there are different ideas as to how truth is actually obtained and which is the best way to obtain it. Two individuals and great philosophers of their time, Plato and Charles Peirce, severally had their own ideas on how truth and association could be obtained.One of the main(prenominal) differences between Platos and Peirces philosophies regarding truth is that Plato believed truth is founded in fellowship while Peirce believed acquaintance could never be obtained. Plato believed that everyone possesses knowledge and the realization of this knowledge could be achieved through recollection. This was demonstrated in Platos Meno when Socrates presented the square of echo size question to the slave son. Socrates did not teach the slave son how to get the answer, he merely asked the boy a series of questions and the boy came to the right answer through recollection. In this way, the boy already have the knowledge to answer the question correctly. With this philosophy, truth is past-oriented. Past experiences and universal knowledge is the key to truth.Plato also had the philosophy of dyadic intuitionism. Intuition, Plato believed, is the basis of knowledge. Logical progressions sine qua non not be made to determine relationships and discover truth. Plato was closer to the spot of the terra firma of Being as opposed to the Realm of Becoming. The Realm of Being is eternal, involves recollection and acquisition of knowledge, and consists of a more optimistic mess of truth.Peirce, on the other han d, believed that true knowledge could never be obtained. He believed that truth was future oriented. Peirces preferred method of pursuing truth was the scientific method. This method consists of forming a venture and trying to disprove the hypothesis through practical evidence. Although Peirce thought the scientific method was the best commence to search for truth, he believed that it could only be used to disprove a hypothesis, and that nothing could be proven for certain. It is through this idea that his belief that knowledge can never be obtained is founded.