Focusing on Truth

"Focusing on Truth" explores the question of what truth is, balancing historical discussion with issue-orientated discussion. The book offers a comprehensive survey of all the major theories of truth. Dr Johnson investigates a number of closely related matters of truth in his inquiry. What sorts of things are true or false? What is attributed to them when they are said to be true or false? What do facts have to do with truth? What can we learn from previous theories? The book opens with an analysis of the coherence theory of truth, as developed by Moore, Russell and Wittgenstein. Through a study of the semantic questions of truth, the author reveals that an adequate theory of truth must take account of the pragmatics of person, purpose and circumstance. A full understanding of facts and truth bearers is considered central to Johnson's criticism of the opposing truth theories of J.L. Austin and P.F. Strawson. Drawing on the merits of these theories and others, while identifying their deficiencies, Johnson presents a new account of truth, based on the correlation of referential foci and the use of linguistic conventions.