display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers
2 ideas
22641 | Realities just are, and beliefs are true of them [James] |
Full Idea: Realities are not true, they are; and beliefs are true of them. | |
From: William James (The Pragmatist Account of Truth [1908], 'Fourth') | |
A reaction: At last, a remark by James about truth which I really like. For 'realities' I would use the word 'facts'. |
22649 | Classification can only ever be for a particular purpose [James] |
Full Idea: Every way of classifying a thing is but a way of handling it for some particular purpose. Conceptions, 'kinds', are teleological instruments. | |
From: William James (The Sentiment of Rationality [1882], p.24) | |
A reaction: Could there not be ways of classifying which suit all of our purposes? If there were a naturally correct way to classifying things, then any pragmatist would probably welcome that. (I don't say there is such a way). |