tõed

Tõed is the Estonian word for truth, with the plural tõed referring to truths or true statements. In everyday language it denotes what corresponds to reality, what is correct or accurate. In philosophy, tõed is used to discuss the nature of truth itself, how it is established, and how it relates to beliefs, claims, and knowledge.

Philosophical theories of truth commonly held in discussions of tõed include several approaches. The correspondence theory sees truth as a relation between a statement and the facts or state of the world it describes. The coherence theory defines truth as internal consistency within a larger system of beliefs or propositions. The pragmatic theory evaluates truth by the practical success of a belief or its usefulness in guiding action. The deflationary (or minimalist) account treats truth as a linguistic or logical device, suggesting that “truth” does not ascribe a substantive property to statements but simply endorses them or allows generalization.

Different kinds of truths are recognized in this tradition. Logical truths are true by virtue of logical form (such as tautologies). Mathematical truths follow from accepted axioms and proofs. Empirical truths depend on observation and evidence about the real world. There are also normative truths, which concern how things ought to be, though their status is debated within truth theories.

The concept of tõed plays a central role in science, law, linguistics, and epistemology, where distinguishing true claims from false ones is essential for explanation, prediction, and decision-making. Debates about the nature of tõed continue to influence how knowledge is defined and tested.