more from Donald Davidson

Single Idea 23284

[catalogued under 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 3. Value of Truth]

Full Idea

Plato's conflation of abstract universals with entities of supreme value reinforced the confusion of truth with the most eminent truths. …The only perfect exemplar of a Form is the Form itself, …and only truth itself is completely true.

Gist of Idea

Plato's Forms confused truth with the most eminent truths, so only Truth itself is completely true

Source

Donald Davidson (Truth Rehabilitated [1997], p.3)

Book Reference

Davidson,Donald: 'Truth, Language and History' [OUP 2005], p.3


A Reaction

Even non-subscribers to Plato often talk as if there were some grand thing called the Truth with a capital T, quite often used in a religious context. Truth is the hallmark of successful (non-fanciful) thought.