Truth

The Surprising Divide Over What Counts as True

A new study finds that what people think about facts, authenticity, or coherent beliefs explains why they disagree about what is true.

Ronald Bailey | 5.15.2026 2:40 PM

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(Midjourney)

Maria and Peter are students and meet up for a late dinner. Peter asks Maria whether Tom is at the party that they intend to go to after dinner. Maria answers that Tom is at the party. After all, Tom had told her that he would be at the party. When they arrive at the party, it turns out that Tom had changed his plans, and is not at the party.

This was the scenario posed to research participants in a new study by a team of European researchers. They were then asked: Was Maria's answer true or false?

It's pretty clear that Maria's answer is false, at least from my point of view. In other words, I am fully embracing the correspondence theory of truth. However, the study, published in Cognition, shockingly found that only just over 50 percent of participants would agree with me. Apparently, many other people tend to identify truth with how well a statement fits within a person's........

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