Introduction to the Theory of Truth

Mark Jago presents and defends a novel theory of what truth is, in terms of the metaphysical notion of truthmaking. This is the relation which holds between a truth and some entity in the world, in virtue of which that truth is true. By coming to an understanding of this relation, he argues, we gain better insight into the metaphysics of truth.

Part One: Understanding Truth

The first part of the book discusses the property being true, and how we should understand it in terms of truthmaking.

Part Two: Truthmakers

This second part focuses on truthmakers, the worldly entities which make various kinds of truths true, and how they do so. Jago argues for a metaphysics of states of affairs, which account for things having properties and standing in relations.

Part Three: Logic and Metaphysics of Truthmaking

The third part analyses the logic and metaphysics of the truthmaking relation itself, and links it to the metaphysical concept of grounding.

Part Four: Implications for Language and Logic

The final part discusses consequences of the theory for language and logic. Jago shows how the theory delivers a novel and useful theory of propositions, the entities which are true or false, depending on how things are. A notable feature of this approach is that it avoids the Liar paradox and other puzzling paradoxes of truth.