Complexity and hierarchy in truth predicates
pp. 211-243
in: Theodora Achourioti, Henri Galinon, José Martínez Fernández, Kentaro Fujimoto (eds), Unifying the philosophy of truth, Berlin, Springer, 2015Abstract
In this paper, I speak in favor of hierarchies in the theory of truth. I argue that hierarchies are more well-motivated and can provide better and more workable theories than is often assumed. Along the way, I sketch the sort of hierarchy I believe is plausible and defensible. My defense of hierarchies assumes an "inflationary' view of truth that sees truth as a substantial semantic concept. I argue that if one adopts this view of truth, hierarchies arise naturally. I also show that this approach to truth makes it a very complex concept. I argue that this complexity helps motivate hierarchies. Complexity and hierarchy go together, if you adopt the right view of truth.