Epistemology and the Theory of Knowledge

This article discusses the different theories of truth, including the correspondence theory, coherence theory, and constructivist theory, and their impact on epistemology and the theory of knowledge.

Epistemology and the theory of knowledge
Epistemology and theory of knowledge
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Epistemology and the theory of knowledge
What is truth
Truth refers to that which is in accordance with a given fact or reality that is accepted as
true. It is usually upheld to be as opposite to the nature of falsehood that can take on a logical,
factual and ethical approach (Audi, 2010). Over the years the concept of truth has been discussed
and researched in various contexts for example by theorists, philosophers, art and religious
leaders. Some philosophers however regard truth domain as basic, and without ability to be
explained in other simpler terms or concepts than truth itself. In various common societal setting,
individuals vie4w truth as the equivalence of a certain form of language or thoughtful idea to an
independent reality which has been commonly referred to as the correspondence theory of truth.
Many theories and views of truth have been researched and designed among scholars and
theologians (Audi, 2010). Language and other terms are a models by which people convey
information and data and the model utilized in determination of what truth is referred to as the
sole criterion of truth. The exists distinct claims on questions that ask on what actually
constitutes the truth nature, identification and definition of truth and capability of a statement
being true or false. It is evident that faith and empirically based knowledge plays a huge role is
defining whether truth is subjective or objective nature (Lehrer, 2018).
Theories of truth have continued to evolve where researchers discuss in detail the vital prevalent
substantive theory. Currently, many theories have emerged ad developed providing alternatives
to the existing theories.
Theories that accounts for truth.
Correspondence theory of truth

Epistemology and the theory of knowledge
This theory usually puts an emphasis and focus mainly on the true beliefs and statements
that corresponds relatively to the real state of existing affairs. Typically, it stresses on the core
relationship between ideological thoughts or statements and things on other dimension. It
involves a traditional model that traces its emergence to the ancient Greek philosophers for
example Aristotle (Lehrer,2018). This kind of theory ensures that the truth or falsity of a
situation is represented by the principle revolving on how it interacts with other descriptive
things in an accurate and precise manner. (Rescher, 2012) a theologian made a certain statement
that said, “a judgement is only sated as true when it actually conforms to the external realities.”
Correspondence theory focuses and revolves entirely around the assumption that explains truth
as a just a matter of accurately emulating objective reality and then propelling significant
thoughts and key words. Many world researchers have outlined this concept based on the notion
that its ideal nature cannot be successfully attained without carrying out proper analysis on other
factors (Zimmer, 2013). For instance, language complexity plays a huge role since all individual
languages consist of words that that determine concepts that have been virtually identified by
other languages. Thus it’s clear that some words or syllables used by different people
internationally act as an added parameter to the design of a precise truth predicate. Various
proponents have driven their understanding further by asserting that there are some other
valuable issues that necessary in the analysis of truth nature. These factors include societal
interactions, individual biases and personal or group power relationships (Young, 2013).
Coherence theory
In this case, the nature of truth needs a proper need a proper and advanced explanation in
order to fit the available elementary techniques of the whole system, Coherence basically defines
more concepts than a simple logical consistency. This theory explains the creative idea that

Epistemology and the theory of knowledge
involves an approach that truth is primarily owned by whole proposition system and can be
upheld by propositions of other people in relation to the coherence.
From the early understanding of the coherence theory, it shows that the theory can be categorized
into consistency. This means that in order to consider a certain proposition to be in alignment,
then there must be another preposition to indicate that the preposition is true. For instance, by
considering two prepositions describing different objects or subjects, then it means a certain
preposition should be in consistent (Kinsella, 2010). This suggests that a proposition coheres
with different propositions when it is involved with the proposition and hence otherwise.
Basically their different principles which have been noted in the theory of coherence. The two
lines of principles described by the early advocates serves as the first principle for the coherence.
The earliest form of the coherence was associated with the concept of idealism. The
metaphysical position has enabled the idealists to use the aspect of the coherence (Campbell,
2013). The idealist argue that the beliefs forms the reality of the world. In sense belief cannot
show the accuracy of the truth of a certain belief since it does not have any measure of the truth
in it. This come to a point which argue that a belief is true depending on the degree of the
coherence that is implied within the propositions used.
For example, someone can believe that a certain aspect of coherence is in connection with the
agreed objectives of the facts. This illustrates that if a set of given belief is not able to measure
the truth form the coherence then the argument is wrong (Bryant & Charmaz,2010).
Also the theory argues that someone cannot be able to escape his/her belief. Therefore, this
means that it’s difficult to compare the facts and the statements of the truth. This proves that it’s
not easy to detect or realize whether the coherent proposition is in conjunction with the reality.

Epistemology and the theory of knowledge
The argument provides the validation and therefore giving the utmost result for comparing the
objectives of the truth (Bryant & Charmaz,2010).
In general, there are two aspects of coherence which serve as the main objection of the theory.
The first objection of the theory shows that many of the theorist will tend to contradict
themselves when trying to come up with the propositions for the truth (Hofer &
Pintrich,2012). From this concept it shows that all human beings tend to belief a fact depending
on the stimuli in their thoughts and their mental representation. According to the theory of
coherence then it shows that the thoughts are created in form appropriate propositions that will
describe the position and the base of reality and the fact. This suggest that everything that has a
measure of truth is always described with the use atomic type of sentences that reveals a truth of
the reality and a fact.
Constructivist theory
Social constructivist views that truth I designed by community social processes and its
historically and cultural determined by the power struggles within a specified societal setting. It
holds that all individual knowledge and ideas are made as it does not focus on external reflection
realities (Bryant & Charmaz,2010). In comparison with the correspondence theory, this type of
truth theory enables perceptions of truth to be massively seen and understood as contingencies
based on human perception and social experiences of each human being (Jonassen & Land,
2012). Constructivist hold a certain belief that physical a biological concept for example race,
ethnicity, sex, gender and class of people are socially designed.
Giambattisa vico, an Italian based political philosopher was among the first people who
pioneered the prior claims that explain how man made history and culture. His epistemological

Epistemology and the theory of knowledge
orientation collected the key diverse unfolds in a single postulate statement stating that “truth
itself is constructed “Marx and Hegel theorists emphasized that the premise statement of truth
was socially constructed over a changing period of time. Marx consecutively differentiated
between true knowledge and actual knowledge which have continually been affected by the
biases imparted on the power of ideas (Jonassen & Land, 2012).
Conclusion
Many researchers have put all their efforts throughout their years in carrying out
Important study in order to enable individuals in the community to understand and comprehend
the nature of truth. The different theories of truth have served to act as a support framework in
understanding the truth in its deeper meaning.

Epistemology and the theory of knowledge
Reference
Audi, R. (2010). Epistemology: A contemporary introduction to the theory of knowledge.
Routledge.
Lehrer, K. (2018). Theory of knowledge. Routledge.
Rescher, N. (2012). Epistemology: An introduction to the theory of knowledge. SUNY Press.
Zimmer, H. (2013). Early Buddhist theory of knowledge. Routledge.
Young, M. (2013). Overcoming the crisis in curriculum theory: A knowledge-based
approach. Journal of curriculum studies, 45(2), 101-118.
Bryant, A., & Charmaz, K. (2010). Grounded theory in historical perspective: An
epistemological account. Handbook of grounded theory, 31-57.
Hofer, B. K., & Pintrich, P. R. (2012). Personal epistemology: The psychology of beliefs about
knowledge and knowing. Routledge.
Campbell, D. T. (2013). Levels of organization, downward causation, and the selection-theory
approach to evolutionary epistemology. In Theories of the evolution of knowing (pp. 7-24).
Psychology Press.
Kinsella, E. A. (2010). Professional knowledge and the epistemology of reflective
practice. Nursing philosophy, 11(1), 3-14.
Jonassen, D., & Land, S. (Eds.). (2012). Theoretical foundations of learning environments.
Routledge.