Concerning the discussion posted on analysis of validity, acquiring, and defining truth on the pragmatic theory of truth, criticism on William James’ pragmatic theory can be deduced. The theory holds that a belief or claim can be classified as true if it works. However, critiques of this theory assert that there is no validity in categorizing truth as what works since not all works are true (Foreman, 2020). To determine the validity of a belief and its workability, one should discern its utility value. This is in line with whether the belief is successful in its effects or whether it leads to the production of desirable outcomes upon which it can be said to be true.
Based on the example given on the comparison between Buddhism and Christianity beliefs, the Buddhists hold a belief that Buddha teaches against belief in God or gods as it is not relevant for spiritual liberation. In contrast, Christians hold a belief and commitment to God as the sole source for their spiritual liberation. According to Groothuis (2013), these beliefs are upheld as incidentally accurate to each concerned denomination based on their successful outcomes and teaches made to acquire the beliefs. However, practical problems hold that Buddhism teachings and practices are different from those of Christianity since only one of the two beliefs is the truth.
Despite Buddha and Christ existing years back, the question on the hypotheses of the two beliefs is a factor considered in determining whether the beliefs are true. Pragmatically, the Buddha belief and the Christians’ beliefs are true as believers tend to achieve their desired effects (Capps, 2019). However, pragmatism theory problems assert that the validity of these two beliefs is null as they lack correspondence. Therefore, the pragmatic perspective of validating, acquiring, and defining truth as per the pragmatic theory problems is on the basis that what is considered true then produces successful outcomes when it works.
References
Capps, J. (2019). The Pragmatic Theory of Truth
Dew Jr, J. K., & Foreman, M. W. (2020). How do we know? An introduction to epistemology. InterVarsity Press.
Douglas Groothuis. (2013). “Some problems with Pragmatism” bethinking. Org