Single Idea 8497

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 11. Ontological Commitment / d. Commitment of theories]

Full Idea

Our acceptance of ontology is similar in principle to our acceptance of a scientific theory; we adopt the simplest conceptual scheme into which the disordered fragments of raw experience can be fitted and arranged.

Gist of Idea

An ontology is like a scientific theory; we accept the simplest scheme that fits disorderly experiences

Source

Willard Quine (On What There Is [1948], p.16)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'From a Logical Point of View' [Harper and Row 1963], p.16


A Reaction

Quine (who says he likes 'desert landscapes') is the modern hero for anyone who loves Ockham's Razor, and seeks extreme simplicity. And yet he finds himself committed to the existence of sets to achieve this.