Answer
Speaking of “my truth” has become popular in modern culture. My truth refers to the idea that every individual can discover, define, and decide what is true for him or her. This idea suggests that truth is personal, subjective, and shaped by individual beliefs and experiences. In contrast, the correspondence theory of truth argues that truth is objective and exists apart from personal perspectives. Despite cultural trends, the correspondence theory remains the most valid approach to analyzing truth claims because it is based on factual reality.
The term correspondence theory has two important parts. First, correspondence refers to how well a truth claim aligns with observed reality. For example, someone might say, “The ocean is full of water.” This statement asserts the existence of an objective truth that people can verify through observation and evidence. Observation shows that the ocean is full of water; therefore, the statement corresponds to reality and is thus true.
Second, correspondence theory is a theory because it offers a philosophical explanation for the nature of truth. The correspondence theory suggests that truth can be clearly known and stated. This separates it from other views of truth, such as the pragmatic, coherence, and relativistic theories:
The pragmatic theory of truth argues that a truth claim is accurate if it has practical utility or produces useful outcomes. This approach does not focus on objective facts but rather on the effectiveness of ideas in daily applications. It would say that the claim that the ocean is full of water is true because it enables sea travel and it is useful for certain activities like fishing.
The coherence theory of truth argues that a truth claim is correct if it aligns with a system of beliefs that people broadly accept. This approach to truth does not focus on objective facts but internal consistency. It would say that the claim that the ocean is full of water is only true because it fits within a coherent system of beliefs that most people have about the world.
Relativism is a theory of truth that argues that cultural, historical, and individual views shape what people perceive as fact. This model rejects the concept of objective facts, focusing instead on subjective beliefs, values, and experiences. Thus, it would say that concepts like oceans and water are based on physical realities; however, people interpret these concepts subjectively, in ways that reflect cultural or individual views.
The correspondence theory of truth offers various responses to these arguments. In response to the pragmatic theory, it suggests that water in the ocean does not need to have practical applications to be real. In response to the coherence theory, it suggests that truths like oceans being full of water are factually independent of any belief system. In other words, something can be true whether or not most people believe it. And in response to relativism, it suggests that widely shared, historical views, such as oceans being full of water, likely reflect objective reality.
Furthermore, coherence, pragmatic, and relativistic theories commit a logical fallacy called self-contradiction. They assert that objective truth does not exist or cannot be known. From that position, they cannot logically confirm whether any other view has succeeded or failed in finding objective truth. This error in thinking undermines any attack on the correspondence theory.
The Bible affirms the correspondence theory of truth, teaching that truth is objective and knowable. Truth is rooted in Scripture (John 17:17) and embodied in Jesus Christ (John 8:31–32; 14:6). Christians should evaluate all approaches to truth in light of God’s trustworthy revelation in Scripture.