Single Idea 8348

[catalogued under 7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 4. Events / b. Events as primitive]

Full Idea

The assumption, ontological and metaphysical, that there are events, is one without which we cannot make sense of much of our most common talk.

Gist of Idea

If we don't assume that events exist, we cannot make sense of our common talk

Source

Donald Davidson (Causal Relations [1967], §4)

Book Reference

Davidson,Donald: 'Essays on Actions and Events' [OUP 1982], p.162


A Reaction

He considers events to be unanalysable basics. Explanation of normal talk also needs ghosts, premonitions, telepathy and Father Christmas. It is extremely hard to individuate events, unless they are subatomic, and rather numerous.

Related Idea

Idea 18914 Davidson controversially proposed to quantify over events [Davidson, by Engelbretsen]