1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910150180203321

Autore

Stevick Travis M.

Titolo

Encountering Reality : T. F. Torrance on Truth and Human Understanding / / Travis M. Stevick

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Minneapolis, Minnesota : , : Fortress Press, , 2016

©2016

ISBN

1-5064-1292-0

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (237 pages)

Collana

Emerging scholars

Disciplina

230.044092

Soggetti

Knowledge, Theory of

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Revision of author's thesis (doctoral)--University of St. Andrews, 2015 under title: Kata physin : a critical exploration of the epistemology of T.F. Torrance as it relates to the philosophy of theological and natural science.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-220) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction -- 1. What is (authentic) knowledge? -- 2. Ultimate beliefs -- 3. Objectivity -- 4. What does it mean to speak kata physin? : The question of truth -- 5. What is the role of theory in kataphysic knowledge? -- Conclusion.

Sommario/riassunto

Encountering Reality argues for a new appreciation of T. F. Torrance on epistemology and reality. According to Torrance's realism, all authentic knowledge involves the nature of the object impressing its inherent rationality on the mind. Consequently, knowledge involves thinking in accordance with the nature of the object. We shall explore the place and function of "ultimate beliefs" in epistemology, as well as the question as to whether such beliefs imply a retreat to either foundationalism or fideism. The inescapability of ultimate beliefs in all human knowledge requires a shift in the traditional notion of objectivity. We find that shift in the account provided by T. F. Torrance, whose epistemological position implies an alternative notion of truth. Drawing on distinctly Christian sources, Torrance emphasizes the distinction between truth and truthfulness thereby reorienting the discussion from a focus on statements to a focus on being. This shift challenges the dichotomy between correspondence and coherence



theories of truth and provides one way of transcending the scientific realism/anti-realism debate and gives rise to a practical epistemological tool, disclosure models, which function as self-correcting, self-marginalizing lenses through which we encounter reality, yielding knowledge in accordance to the nature of the thing known.