Single Idea 9029

[catalogued under 18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 1. Abstract Thought]

Full Idea

There used to be a 'problem of Abstract Ideas' because it was assumed that an idea ought, somehow, to be a mental image; if some of our ideas appeared not to be images, this was a paradox and some solution must be found.

Gist of Idea

If ideas have to be images, then abstract ideas become a paradoxical problem

Source

H.H. Price (Thinking and Experience [1953], Ch.VIII)

Book Reference

Price,H.H.: 'Thinking and Experience' [Hutchinson 1953], p.234


A Reaction

Berkeley in particular seems to be struck by the fact that we are incapable of thinking of a general triangle, simply because there is no image related to it. Most conversations go too fast for images to form even of very visual things.