Single Idea 2454

[catalogued under 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 3. Experiment]

Full Idea

A creature that knows what makes its thoughts true and what would cause it to have them, could therefore cause itself to have true thoughts. …This would explain why experimentation is so close to the heart of our cognitive style.

Gist of Idea

We can deliberately cause ourselves to have true thoughts - hence the value of experiments

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (The Elm and the Expert [1993], §4)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'The Elm and the Expert' [MIT 1995], p.92