What is truth?

What is truth? is a clear and comprehensive introduction to the Philosophy of Science, that will equally appeal to students of the Humanities, the Social Sciences and the Natural Sciences.

With a solid footing in the history of classical philosophy, the book offers an in-depth discussion of Karl Popper, Thomas Kuhn, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Jacques Derrida and Bruno Latour, among others. The book discusses recent developments in the Philosophy of Science, such as post-Kuhnian philosophy and the current interest in “objectivity”. According to Chunglin Kwa, there is not one rationality of science but several, each with its own logic and legitimate claim to truth. Six such styles of scientific reasoning can be established, pervading the sciences (including the humanities) in different combinations.

The latter focus provides the book with an outstanding interdisciplinary outlook. Chunglin Kwa teaches at the University of Amsterdam. What is truth? is a translation of Wat is waarheid?, published by Boom in 2017. Previously, Boom published De ontdekking van het weten (third edition, 2009), a translation of which (Styles of Knowing, 2011) was published by the University of Pittsburgh Press.