LessonsTruth and Falsehood in Reports: The Majority, al-Naẓẓām and al-JāḥiẓQuiz

صدق الخبر مطابقته أي مطابقة حكمه للواقع
A report is true when the judgment it expresses agrees with reality.

For the majority, reality provides the truth criterion. The speaker’s confidence, knowledge or intention does not by itself decide whether the proposition is true. What matters is the asserted state of affairs.

For example, a person wrongly believes Zayd is absent but, contrary to that belief, says “Zayd is at home.” If Zayd actually is home, the statement counts as true on the majority view, while the speaker’s intentions remain a separate issue.

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The majority: truth as agreement with reality

Truth and Falsehood in Reports: The Majority, al-Naẓẓām and al-Jāḥiẓ

صدق الخبر مطابقته أي مطابقة حكمه للواقع
A report is true when the judgment it expresses agrees with reality.

For the majority, reality provides the truth criterion. The speaker’s confidence, knowledge or intention does not by itself decide whether the proposition is true. What matters is the asserted state of affairs.

For example, a person wrongly believes Zayd is absent but, contrary to that belief, says “Zayd is at home.” If Zayd actually is home, the statement counts as true on the majority view, while the speaker’s intentions remain a separate issue.