On an Incorrect Understanding of Tarskian Truth Definitions
Manuel García‐Carpintero · Philosophical Issues · 1997
This position [Tarski's claim that T-sentences are partial definitions of truth] is demonstrably incorrect. (i) An instance of the 'S' is true (in L), in which a sentence s replaces the symbol 'S', does not mean the same thing as s; (ii) instances of schema T are not definitional of the ordinary notion of truth; (iii) Tarski's formally defined truth predicates differ substantially in meaning from our ordinary truth predicate, even when restricted to the relevant object languages; and (iv) this difference in meaning has significant theoretical consequences -whereas our ordinary notion of truth can play substantial roles in providing semantic