Abstract

Coherence and Correspondence. Questions on a Programme of Reconciliation. Nicholas Rescher has recently proposed an original synthesis of the correspondence and the coherence idea. My purpose is a critical examination of this proposal. Against the background of a sketch of Rescher's general truth-conception and the synthesis mentioned above, I ask two questions. First: Given that coherence can only be the criterion of truth, if it forms a constitutive part of the concept of truth too; why not accept the inverse idea, which postulates the criterion-presence of correspondence? Secondly: Given the plausibility of the theoretical framework which allows the synthesis; why not accept a framework which allows a global synthesis between all truth-theories?