Single Idea 10237

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 6. Coherence]

Full Idea

I take 'coherence' to be a primitive, intuitive notion, not reduced to something formal, and so I do not venture a rigorous definition of it.

Gist of Idea

Coherence is a primitive, intuitive notion, not reduced to something formal

Source

Stewart Shapiro (Philosophy of Mathematics [1997], 4.8)

Book Reference

Shapiro,Stewart: 'Philosophy of Mathematics:structure and ontology' [OUP 1997], p.135


A Reaction

I agree strongly with this. Best to talk of 'the space of reasons', or some such. Rationality extends far beyond what can be formally defined. Coherence is the last court of appeal in rational thought.