Alethiology
Encyclopedia
Alethiology literally means 'the study of truth
', but can more accurately be translated as 'the study of the nature of truth'. It could be argued that this is synonymous with epistemology, the study of knowledge, and that dividing the two is mere semantics
, but there is a distinction between the two. Epistemology is the study of knowledge and its acquisition. Alethiology is specifically concerned with the nature of truth, which is only one of the areas studied by epistemologists.
The term 'alethiology' is rare. The ten volume Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
mentions it only once, in the article 'Lambert, Johann Heinrich (1728-77)':
The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
describes the discipline as "…an uncommon expression for the doctrine of truth, used by Sir William Hamilton
in his philosophic writings when treating of the rules for the discrimination of truth and error."
The term appears in The Banalization of Nihilism (p.p 17-18) in contrast to several other types of nihilism, especially epistemological nihilism. The views of several philosophers are then distinguished by reference to 'alethiologicsl nihilism', 'epistemological nihilism' and the like.
Truth
Truth has a variety of meanings, such as the state of being in accord with fact or reality. It can also mean having fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. In a common usage, it also means constancy or sincerity in action or character...
', but can more accurately be translated as 'the study of the nature of truth'. It could be argued that this is synonymous with epistemology, the study of knowledge, and that dividing the two is mere semantics
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning. It focuses on the relation between signifiers, such as words, phrases, signs and symbols, and what they stand for, their denotata....
, but there is a distinction between the two. Epistemology is the study of knowledge and its acquisition. Alethiology is specifically concerned with the nature of truth, which is only one of the areas studied by epistemologists.
The term 'alethiology' is rare. The ten volume Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
The Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy is an encyclopedia of philosophy edited by Edward Craig that was first published by Routledge in 1998 . Originally published in both 10 volumes of print and as a CD-ROM, in 2002 it was made available online on a subscription basis...
mentions it only once, in the article 'Lambert, Johann Heinrich (1728-77)':
Part Two of the Neues Organon is the ‘Alethiology or Doctrine of Truth’. Lambert’s key concern here is with the nature and function of the simple concepts that serve as the building blocks for the logical construction of true propositions.
The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition is a 29-volume reference work, an edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. It was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time...
describes the discipline as "…an uncommon expression for the doctrine of truth, used by Sir William Hamilton
Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet
Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet was a Scottish metaphysician.-Early life:He was born in Glasgow. He was from an academic family, including Robert Hamilton, the economist...
in his philosophic writings when treating of the rules for the discrimination of truth and error."
The term appears in The Banalization of Nihilism (p.p 17-18) in contrast to several other types of nihilism, especially epistemological nihilism. The views of several philosophers are then distinguished by reference to 'alethiologicsl nihilism', 'epistemological nihilism' and the like.