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Part of the book series: Synthese Library ((SYLI,volume 323))

Abstract

Sjoerd D. Zwart’s doctoral dissertation Approach to the Truth (1998) divides theories of truthlikeness into two rival approaches. The content definitions operate with the notions of truth value and logical strength, and the likeness definitions employ the notion of similarity between possible worlds or their representations (structures, constituents). This division is not as such novel, but Zwart links it in an interesting way to the question: what is the least truthlike theory? He also notes that my own theory, given in Truthlikeness (1987), can give either a content or likeness ordering. This observation is correct, and it gives me a welcome opportunity to clarify, motivate, and sharpen my views.

This paper is based on a lecture given at the Eleventh International Congress of Logic, Methodology, and Philosophy of Science in Cracow, in August 1999

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Niiniluoto, I. (2003). Content and Likeness Definitions of Truthlikeness. In: Hintikka, J., Czarnecki, T., Kijania-Placek, K., Placek, T., Rojszczak, A. (eds) Philosophy and Logic in Search of the Polish Tradition. Synthese Library, vol 323. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0249-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0249-2_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6471-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0249-2

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