Single Idea 4890

[catalogued under 19. Language / E. Analyticity / 3. Analytic and Synthetic]

Full Idea

Although there is seldom a sharp analytic/synthetic distinction to be drawn in the case of our concepts, there are clearly things that are more and less central.

Gist of Idea

A sharp analytic/synthetic line can rarely be drawn, but some concepts are central to thought

Source

John Perry (Knowledge, Possibility and Consciousness [2001], §3.2)

Book Reference

Perry,John: 'Knowledge, Possibility and Consciousness' [MIT 2001], p.54


A Reaction

Most Americans seem enslaved to Quine on this one, so it is nice to see the obvious being stated for once. Human thought is an organic offshoot of the natural world. To think it is all arbitrary and changeable is human arrogance.