Single Idea 18987

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects]

Full Idea

What shall we call a 'thing' anyhow? It seems quite arbitrary, for we carve out everything, just as we carve out constellations, to suit our human purposes.

Gist of Idea

A 'thing' is simply carved out of reality for human purposes

Source

William James (Pragmatism - eight lectures [1907], Lec 7)

Book Reference

James,William: 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' [Dover 1995], p.98


A Reaction

James wrote just before the discovery of galaxies, which are much more obviously 'things' than constellations like the Plough are! This idea suggests a connection between pragmatism and the nihilist view of objects of Van Inwagen and co.