Single Idea 7702

[catalogued under 19. Language / D. Propositions / 1. Propositions]

Full Idea

The extreme ontological alternatives with respect to the metaphysics of propositions are a Fregean Platonism (his "gedanken", 'thoughts'), and a radical nominalism or inscriptionalism, as in Quine, where they are just marks related to stimuli.

Gist of Idea

The extreme views on propositions are Frege's Platonism and Quine's extreme nominalism

Source

Dale Jacquette (Ontology [2002], Ch. 9)

Book Reference

Jacquette,Dale: 'Ontology' [Acumen 2002], p.221


A Reaction

Personally I would want something between the two - that propositions are brain events of a highly abstract kind. I say that introspection reveals pre-linguistic thoughts, which are propositions. A proposition is an intentional state.