True and false are attributes of speech, not of things. And where speech is not, there is neither truth nor falsehood

True and false are attributes of speech, not of things. And where speech is not, there is neither truth nor falsehood

Thomas Hobbes, a prominent English philosopher of the 17th century, is known for his contributions to political philosophy and his work on the nature of truth and falsehood. In his famous quote, “True and false are attributes of speech, not of things. And where speech is not, there is neither truth nor falsehood,” Hobbes delves into the relationship between language and reality.

Hobbes believed that truth and falsehood are not inherent qualities of objects or events in the world, but rather are determined by the way we use language to describe them. In other words, truth and falsehood are attributes of speech, not of the things themselves. This idea challenges the traditional view that truth and falsehood are objective properties of the world that can be discovered through observation and reason.

For Hobbes, language is the medium through which we interpret and understand the world around us. It is through language that we construct our beliefs, communicate our thoughts, and make sense of our experiences. In this sense, truth and falsehood are dependent on the accuracy and coherence of our language. If our speech accurately reflects the world as it is, then it is true. If our speech distorts or misrepresents reality, then it is false.

Furthermore, Hobbes argues that without language, there can be no truth or falsehood. In the absence of speech, there is no way to convey information, express beliefs, or make judgments about the world. Truth and falsehood are products of human communication and interpretation, and without language as a tool for conveying meaning, there can be no distinction between the two.