Single Idea 6284

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 8. A Priori as Analytic]

Full Idea

If we held, say, 'All unmarried men are unmarried' as absolutely immune from revision, why would this make it true?

Gist of Idea

If a tautology is immune from revision, why would that make it true?

Source

Hilary Putnam (Meaning and the Moral Sciences [1978], Pt Four)

Book Reference

Putnam,Hilary: 'Meaning and the Moral Sciences' [RKP 1981], p.137


A Reaction

A very nice question. Like most American philosophers, Putnam accepts Quine's attack on the unrevisability of analytic truths. His point here is that defenders of analytic truths are probably desperate to preserve basic truths, but it won't work.