TITLE:
The Study of Pragmatic Theory of Truth
AUTHORS:
Tiantian Zhang, Xingli Chang
KEYWORDS:
Pragmatic Theory of Truth, Experience, Value of Truth, Scientific Method of Inquiry
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.2,
February
25,
2026
ABSTRACT: Even though pragmatic theories of truth have gained more attention and become the center of philosophical debate, there is still no widely accepted consensus. Here, to address this issue, this article systematically sorts out the theories of truth proposed by Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey, clarifies the evolution trajectory of these theories, identifies the theoretical core of the pragmatic theory of truth, and responds to key criticisms dialectically to clarify long-standing misunderstandings. Unlike traditional theories of truth, the pragmatic theory of truth takes “experience” as its ontological foundation, emphasizes the instrumental value of truth, and grounds the objectivity of truth in its scientific method of inquiry.