The Meaning of Truth
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CHAPTER XV A Dialogue

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After correcting the proofs of all that precedes I imagine a residual1 state of mind on the part of my reader which may still keep him unconvinced, and which it may be my duty to try at least to dispel2. I can perhaps be briefer if I put what I have to say in dialogue form. Let then the anti-pragmatist begin:—

Anti–Pragmatist:— You say that the truth of an idea is constituted by its workings. Now suppose a certain state of facts, facts for example of antediluvian3 planetary history, concerning which the question may be asked:

‘Shall the truth about them ever be known?’ And suppose (leaving the hypothesis of an omniscient4 absolute out of the account) that we assume that the truth is never to be known. I ask you now, brother pragmatist, whether according to you there can be said to be any truth at all about such a state of facts. Is there a truth, or is there not a truth, in cases where at any rate it never comes to be known?

Pragmatist:— Why do you ask me such a question?

Anti–Prag.:— Because I think it puts you in a bad dilemma5.

Prag.:— How so?

Anti–Prag.:— Why, because if on the one hand you elect to say that there is a truth, you thereby6 surrender your whole pragmatist theory. According to that theory, truth requires ideas and workings to constitute it; but in the present instance there is supposed to be no knower, and consequently neither ideas nor workings can exist. What then remains7 for you to make your truth of?

Prag.:— Do you wish, like so many of my enemies, to force me to make the truth out of the reality itself? I cannot: the truth is something known, thought or said about the reality, and consequently numerically additional to it. But probably your intent is something different; so before I say which horn of your dilemma I choose, I ask you to let me hear what the other horn may be.
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1 residual SWcxl     
adj.复播复映追加时间；存留下来的，剩余的
参考例句：
  • There are still a few residual problems with the computer program.电脑程序还有一些残留问题。
  • The resulting residual chromatism is known as secondary spectrum.所得到的剩余色差叫做二次光谱。
2 dispel XtQx0     
vt.驱走，驱散，消除
参考例句：
  • I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
  • We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。
3 antediluvian 7oyy1     
adj.史前的，陈旧的
参考例句：
  • His ideas are positively antediluvian!他的思想是纯粹的老古董。
  • This antediluvian monetary system has now been replaced by the up-to-date monetary system of Japan.这种旧式的金融体系也已经被现代化的日本系统所取代。
4 omniscient QIXx0     
adj.无所不知的；博识的
参考例句：
  • He's nervous when trying to potray himself as omniscient.当他试图把自己描绘得无所不知时，内心其实很紧张。
  • Christians believe that God is omniscient.基督教徒相信上帝是无所不知的。
5 dilemma Vlzzf     
n.困境，进退两难的局面
参考例句：
  • I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
  • He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。
6 thereby Sokwv     
adv.因此，从而
参考例句：
  • I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
  • He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。
7 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
8 propounded 3fbf8014080aca42e6c965ec77e23826     
v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • the theory of natural selection, first propounded by Charles Darwin 查尔斯∙达尔文首先提出的物竞天择理论
  • Indeed it was first propounded by the ubiquitous Thomas Young. 实际上，它是由尽人皆知的杨氏首先提出来的。 来自辞典例句
9 generically 0a0a971731e64a0a3a8e76fab5963a08     
adv.一般地
参考例句：
  • The so-called critics are generically mentioned, but not individually mentioned. 当所谓的批评提及时总是一笔带过，从不指名道姓。 来自互联网
  • We market these drugs generically. 我们推广的这些药是未经注册的。 来自互联网
10 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
11 instinctive c6jxT     
adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的
参考例句：
  • He tried to conceal his instinctive revulsion at the idea.他试图饰盖自己对这一想法本能的厌恶。
  • Animals have an instinctive fear of fire.动物本能地怕火。
12 contention oZ5yd     
n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张
参考例句：
  • The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
  • The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。
13 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
参考例句：
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
14 elusive d8vyH     
adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的
参考例句：
  • Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
  • Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。
15 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
16 dubious Akqz1     
adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的
参考例句：
  • What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
  • He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。
17 distinguished wu9z3v     
adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的
参考例句：
  • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
  • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
18 stipulated 5203a115be4ee8baf068f04729d1e207     
vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的
参考例句：
  • A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. 合同中规定了交货日期。
  • Yes, I think that's what we stipulated. 对呀，我想那是我们所订定的。 来自辞典例句
19 necessitated 584daebbe9eef7edd8f9bba973dc3386     
使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • Recent financial scandals have necessitated changes in parliamentary procedures. 最近的金融丑闻使得议会程序必须改革。
  • No man is necessitated to do wrong. 没有人是被迫去作错事的。
20 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的
参考例句：
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。
21 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
22 entities 07214c6750d983a32e0a33da225c4efd     
实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
  • The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。
23 entity vo8xl     
n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物
参考例句：
  • The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
  • As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。
24 hybrid pcBzu     
n.(动，植）杂种，混合物
参考例句：
  • That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
  • The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。
25 perpetuating 7c867dfb0f4f4d1e7954b7c103fb6cee     
perpetuate的现在进行式
参考例句：
  • Revenge leads to a self-perpetuating cycle of violence. 怨怨相报会导致永不休止的暴力。
  • It'set out to eradicate heresy, and ended by perpetuating it. 它的目的只是要根除异端邪说，结果却巩固了异端邪说。 来自英汉文学
26 consecrating 7b18429f1ddaddd35e6368474fd84a37     
v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的现在分词 )；奉献
参考例句：
  • Participant of Consecrating Wat Ling Khob Amulet. WLK佛牌（光辉之佛）加持的参与者。 来自互联网
27 ambiguity 9xWzT     
n.模棱两可；意义不明确
参考例句：
  • The telegram was misunderstood because of its ambiguity.由于电文意义不明确而造成了误解。
  • Her answer was above all ambiguity.她的回答毫不含糊。
28 impale h4iym     
v.用尖物刺某人、某物
参考例句：
  • Do not push me,or I wil impale you on my horns!别推我，要不我会用我的角顶你。
  • I poisoned him,but I did not impale him on a spear!我毒死了他，但是我没有把他插在长矛上！
29 embarrassment fj9z8     
n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫
参考例句：
  • She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
  • Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
30 abominable PN5zs     
adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的
参考例句：
  • Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
  • The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。
31 sophistry OwWwG     
n.诡辩
参考例句：
  • Sophistry cannot alter history.诡辩改变不了历史。
  • No one can be persuaded by sophistry.强词夺理不能折服人。
32 antagonist vwXzM     
n.敌人，对抗者，对手
参考例句：
  • His antagonist in the debate was quicker than he.在辩论中他的对手比他反应快。
  • The thing is to know the nature of your antagonist.要紧的是要了解你的对手的特性。
33 eminent dpRxn     
adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的
参考例句：
  • We are expecting the arrival of an eminent scientist.我们正期待一位著名科学家的来访。
  • He is an eminent citizen of China.他是一个杰出的中国公民。
34 logician 1ce64af885e87536cbdf996e79fdda02     
n.逻辑学家
参考例句：
  • Mister Wu Feibai is a famous Mohist and logician in Chinese modern and contemporary history. 伍非百先生是中国近、现代著名的墨学家和逻辑学家。 来自互联网
35 ineffable v7Mxp     
adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的
参考例句：
  • The beauty of a sunset is ineffable.日落的美是难以形容的。
  • She sighed a sigh of ineffable satisfaction,as if her cup of happiness were now full.她发出了一声说不出多么满意的叹息，仿佛她的幸福之杯已经斟满了。
36 interpretation P5jxQ     
n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理
参考例句：
  • His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
  • Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。
37 wedded 2e49e14ebbd413bed0222654f3595c6a     
adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • She's wedded to her job. 她专心致志于工作。
  • I was invited over by the newly wedded couple for a meal. 我被那对新婚夫妇请去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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