Four types of truth can be distinguished in scientific knowledge: local truths, truths by definition, mathematical truths and empirical truths. These types are strongly interrelated: empirical theories use the four types; mathematical theories are concerned only with the first three clases, whereas logical theories contain just logical truths and definitions. Those relationships allow to classify the types of truth from two viewpoints concerning, respectively, their degree of abstraction and their relative power. The multiplicity of truth modes means that the idea (...) of truth as unique and complete description of the world can be considered inadequate. (shrink)