Single Idea 4042

[catalogued under 16. Persons / A. Concept of a Person / 1. Existence of Persons]

Full Idea

An intelligible metaphysics will assign a central place to the idea of people (= speakers) with a location in public space and time.

Gist of Idea

Metaphysics requires the idea of people (speakers) located in space and time

Source

Donald Davidson (The Method of Truth in Metaphysics [1977], §III)

Book Reference

'Contemp Perspectives in Phil of Lang', ed/tr. French/Uehling/Wettstein [Minnesota 1979], p.303


A Reaction

The 'location' is the interesting bit, requiring people to be bodies, not abstractions. A big, plausible claim, but hard to prove.