Truth: A Guide

Sort of a mini-course in history of epistemology from Plato to Wittgenstein & Quine critiqueing relativist scepticism. Probably of most value to readers with some background in philosophy.

An important and interesting topic, but the author merely surveys the issues as they appear in philosophical history without digging in or committing to a position himself. The result is the reader gains immediacy, but no basis for resolution of what their own views might be. A little more commitment and focus would have been helpful. However, as a well-written survey, it's short and well worth the effort of the reader interested in approaches to truth.

Simon Blackburn provides interesting insights into the philosophical problem of truth. While many would like the issue of truth to be an easily resolved question via some simplisitic answer, Blackburn points that while a parsimonious answer might be advantageous as in the case of minimalism or deflationism or even quietism, the issue of truth still continues to persist.

With the issue of truth, it is all too easy to allow our sympathies towards one side or the other on the nature of truth to ignore the real argument on the other side of the issue. Simon Blackburn does an excellent job digging deep into the position of relativism as well as the usual complaints from "foundationalist" philosophers against relativism. If you are interested in seeing what both sides have to offer intellectually, this is an exceptional guide.

The book was a bit confusing but overall great!

The theistic or religious view Blackburn interacts with seems to be unrepresentative of theistic philosophers. It seems to be the defeat of a straw-man which is unrepresentative of the actual substance that you often find in theistic philosophers. I would encourage the inquisitive reader to investigate stronger theistic positions such as you will find among the philosopher Dr. William Lane Craig, Dr. Alvin Plantinga, and Dr. Peter Van Inwagen. As a theist myself, I found myself ashamed of the position Blackburn was arguing against and so I quite understand why he would find it inadequate. However, I don't think it is representative of the theistic position.

If you are interested in delving deeply into the philosophical complexities of the concept of truth, you may well benefit from this book. If you are merely a thoughtful person interested in knowing when you can tell if something is indeed true, I'd advise looking elsewhere.

epistemology is inherently difficult, in my view, and Blackburn explores this doggedly. i have not finished it yet, but, already, a number of issues have become clearer to me. The section on Nietzsche is especially interesting as it seems to place him on the path from Kant to Wittgenstein. The distinction from pragmatism is especially interesting.