The Truth about Truth Part 2: The Correspondence Theory

In part one of this series, I briefly discussed the question of truth and how a rational theory of truth is required for a logical epistemology (the study of how we know what we know). I then explained how a relativistic attitude toward truth is directly opposed to a biblical world view since all truth is God’s truth and is not dependent upon opinions. Therefore, as Christians, we must celebrate and cherish the truth as a reflection of God himself. I also mentioned that this would be a three-part series with this second post summarizing the leading theories of truth. However, after consideration I feel each theory needs its own post for us to accurately understand them. Therefore, in this second post I will be going over the correspondence theory of truth.

The Correspondence Theory

The correspondence view of truth, also referred to as realism, is commonsensical and employed at least implicitly by anyone who affirms something about reality.[i] Essentially, a belief or statement is only true so long as it matches with, reflects, or corresponds to the reality it refers to. Facts are what determine the truth or falsity of a statement or belief, so for a statement to be true it must be factual. For example, “The grass is green” is a true statement about reality because the grass is factually green.

The very nature and meaning of truth entail dependence upon facts. A statement can never be true simply because someone believes or thinks it. We may be entitled to our own opinions, but we are never entitled to our own facts.[ii] It is one thing to believe a statement, it is an entirely different matter for that statement to be true. I can believe that the grass is purple, but my belief does not make it so. In other words, beliefs do not determine reality but true beliefs match reality.

However, not all truth claims align with reality. Some are defeated. Not all statements hit their targets. Some miss the mark. Epistemologist Alvin Goldman puts it this way, “Once you form a belief… its ‘success’ or ‘failure’ is not up to you; that is up to the world, which in general is independent of you.”[iii] In other words, only reality itself confirms the truth or falsity of a statement or belief. Properly understood, a true statement is a “descriptive success,” meaning it is faithful to reality. Another way of explaining this is that truth claims are intentional, meaning they are about something or pertain to something. They are directed at a state of affairs, and if true, they capture that state of affairs accurately. “God exists” is a statement about God’s being there as opposed to being absent. In this example, God is the intentional object of the intentional statement “God exists.” On the contrary, a false statement fails to find its intentional object. An example is “North Carolina is the southernmost state.”

An important distinction needs to be made between facts and beliefs. A fact is some set of circumstances in the world while beliefs are opinions about those circumstances.[iv] In other words, a fact simply is because that is the way reality is, it cannot be true or false. Beliefs, however, are capable of being true or false because they may or may not accurately corresponded to reality. Along with beliefs, we can include statements, propositions, thoughts, etc. as capable of being true or false.

I have been discussing the correspondence theory of truth as it pertains to empirical claims, that is claims that can either be true or false. However, much more could be said concerning this theory when it comes to logical or moral claims (e.g., the law of non-contradiction, “murder is wrong”, etc.). If you are interested in learning more about this theory, as well as other theories of truth, I highly suggest Doug Groothius’ comprehensive book Christian Apologetics.

As we continue to discuss and analyze these different theories of truth, I would encourage you to reflect on which theory best aligns with not only a biblical worldview, but reality itself. How, specifically, does the correspondence theory make sense of the world around us, and the world we live in? Does this view of truth help us in discerning what’s true from what’s false? Answering these types of questions will help us in laying a foundation for an accurate and biblical understanding of truth which is necessary in making a case for Christianity.

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[i] Groothuis, Douglas. Essay. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, 122. S.l.: InterVarsity Press, 2022. [ii] Ibid., 123 [iii] Goldman, Knowledge in a Social World, 20. [iv] Cline, Austin. “What Is the Correspondence Theory of Truth?” Learn Religions. Learn Religions, March 28, 2019. Last modified March 28, 2019. Accessed June 21, 2023. https://www.learnreligions.com/correspondence-theory-of-truth-250538.