The way I like to think about this is that the set of all possible thoughts is like a space that can be carved up into little territories and each of those territories marked with a word to give it a name.
Probably better to say something like “set of all possible concepts.” Words denote concepts, complete sentences denote thoughts.
I’m curious if you’re explicitly influenced by Quine for the final section, or if the resemblance is just coincidental.
Also, about that final section, you say that “words are grounded in our direct experience of what happens when we say a word.” While I was reading I kept wondering what you would say about the following alternative (though not mutually exclusive) hypothesis: “words are grounded in our experience of what happens when others say those words in our presence.” Why think the only thing that matters is what happens when we ourselves say a word?
Thanks for the suggestions! Wasn’t specifically thinking of Quine here, but probably have some influence. My influences are actually more the likes of Heidegger, but philosophy seems to converge when it’s on the right tack.
I want to reiterate Vaughn’s question about “grounded in direct experience of what happens when we say a word” as opposed to “what happens when others say those words”.
Probably better to say something like “set of all possible concepts.” Words denote concepts, complete sentences denote thoughts.
I’m curious if you’re explicitly influenced by Quine for the final section, or if the resemblance is just coincidental.
Also, about that final section, you say that “words are grounded in our direct experience of what happens when we say a word.” While I was reading I kept wondering what you would say about the following alternative (though not mutually exclusive) hypothesis: “words are grounded in our experience of what happens when others say those words in our presence.” Why think the only thing that matters is what happens when we ourselves say a word?
Thanks for the suggestions! Wasn’t specifically thinking of Quine here, but probably have some influence. My influences are actually more the likes of Heidegger, but philosophy seems to converge when it’s on the right tack.
I want to reiterate Vaughn’s question about “grounded in direct experience of what happens when we say a word” as opposed to “what happens when others say those words”.