Single Idea 3006

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 4. Meaning as Truth-Conditions]

Full Idea

The mechanisms that deliver falsehoods are somehow parasitic on the ones that deliver truths.

Gist of Idea

Whatever in the mind delivers falsehood is parasitic on what delivers truth

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (Psychosemantics [1987], p.107)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'Psychosemantics' [MIT 1993], p.107


A Reaction

In the case of a sentence and its negation it is not clear which one is 'parasitic', because that can usually be reversed by paraphrasing. Historically, I very much hope that truth-speaking came first.