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Double-truth theory
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Key People:
Isaac Albalag
Related Topics:
Latin Averroism
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Double-truth theory

philosophy
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ā€¢History

Double-truth theory, in philosophy, the view that religion and philosophy, as separate sources of knowledge, might arrive at contradictory truths without detriment to eitherā€”a position attributed to AverroĆ«s and the Latin Averroists. Perhaps neither AverroĆ«s, a Muslim philosopher, nor the Christian Scholastics influenced by his philosophy actually held such a theory. AverroĆ«s did believe in freeing philosophy from religion but held that truths of reason might also be expressed symbolically in religion. Where reconciliation seemed impossible, some of his followers gave authority to reason, others to faith.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Brian Duignan.