Single Idea 6399

[catalogued under 19. Language / F. Communication / 6. Interpreting Language / b. Indeterminate translation]

Full Idea

Studying the criteria of translation is a way of focusing on criteria of identity for conceptual schemes.

Gist of Idea

Criteria of translation give us the identity of conceptual schemes

Source

Donald Davidson (The Very Idea of a Conceptual Scheme [1974], p.184)

Book Reference

Davidson,Donald: 'Inquiries into Truth and Interpretation (2nd ed)' [OUP 2001], p.184


A Reaction

This is why it was an inspired idea of Quine's to make translation a central topic in philosophy. We must be cautious, though, about saying that the language is the conceptual scheme, as that leaves animals with no scheme at all.