Single Idea 18402

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 9. Indexical Thought]

Full Idea

The present suggestion is that indexical concepts are ineliminable because without them agency would be impossible: when I imagine myself divested of indexical thoughts employing only centreless mental representations, I am deprived of the power to act.

Gist of Idea

Indexical concepts are indispensable, as we need them for the power to act

Source

Colin McGinn (Subjective View: sec qualities and indexicals [1983], 6)

Book Reference

McGinn,Colin: 'The Subjective View' [OUP 1983], p.104


A Reaction

A nice clear statement of the view developed by Perry and Lewis. I agree with Cappelen and Dever that it is entirely wrong, and that indexical thought is entirely eliminable, and nothing special.

Related Idea

Idea 18407 Indexicality is not significantly connected to agency [Cappelen/Dever]