Russell on facts as truth-makers


A theory of truth must:

1. make room for falsity

2. admit truth-bearers and the metaphysical requirements of truth-bearers (to wit, minds)

3. admit facts as truth-makers

Russell argues that a correspondence theory is the best theory, because, he says, the only alternative is coherence, while coherence theory suffers from

(a) the fact-fiction difficulty

(b) presupposition of the truth of the laws of logic


What would make the following statement true?

"Desdemona loves Cassio."

How about?

"Cassio loves Desdemona."

And?

"Othello believes that Desdemona loves Cassio."


QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

Can we distinguish between statements that we regard as true and statements we regard as (merely) justified?