Single Idea 3978

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 2. Associationism]

Full Idea

The laws of associations were held to explicate the semantic coherence of intentional processes, which adjust the causal relations among Ideas to reflect corresponding relations among the things that they're ideas of.

Clarification

Hume's associations were 'resemblance, contiguity (closeness), and causation'

Gist of Idea

Associations are held to connect Ideas together in the way the world is connected together

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (Jerry A. Fodor on himself [1994], p.296)

Book Reference

'A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Guttenplan,Samuel [Blackwell 1995], p.296


A Reaction

With the support of evolution, and the backing of a correspondence theory of truth, plus more sophistication in the associations, this might work.