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Single Idea 13750

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 1. Nature of Analysis ]

Full Idea

Urmson explains the direction of analysis as 'towards a structure...more nearly similar to the structure of the fact', adding that this metaphysical picture is needed as a 'rationale of the practice of analysis'.

Gist of Idea

Analysis aims at the structure of facts, which are needed to give a rationale to analysis

Source

report of J.O. Urmson (Philosophical Analysis [1956], p.24-5) by Jonathan Schaffer - On What Grounds What n30

Book Ref

'Metametaphysics', ed/tr. Chalmers/Manley/Wasserman [OUP 2009], p.370


A Reaction

In other words, only realists can be truly motivated to keep going with analysis. Merely analysing language-games is doable, but hardly exciting.


The 17 ideas with the same theme [strategy and value of breaking down ideas and reality]:

Philosophical discussion involves dividing subject-matter into categories [Socrates, by Xenophon]
Our method of inquiry is to examine the smallest parts that make up the whole [Aristotle]
Analysis is the art of finding the middle term [Leibniz]
An idea is analysed perfectly when it is shown a priori that it is possible [Leibniz]
Philosophy is logical analysis, followed by synthesis [Russell]
Only by analysing is progress possible in philosophy [Russell]
Analysis gives new knowledge, without destroying what we already have [Russell]
Analysis gives us nothing but the truth - but never the whole truth [Russell]
Analysis for Moore and Russell is carving up the world, not investigating language [Moore,GE, by Monk]
Disputes that fail to use precise scientific terminology are all meaningless [Tarski]
Analysis aims at the structure of facts, which are needed to give a rationale to analysis [Urmson, by Schaffer,J]
Philosophers have given precise senses to deduction, probability, computability etc [Quine/Ullian]
Analytic philosophy has an exceptional arsenal of critical tools [Fraassen]
Armstrong's analysis seeks truthmakers rather than definitions [Lewis]
Analysis reduces primitives and makes understanding explicit (without adding new knowledge) [Lewis]
Analytic philosophers may prefer formal systems because natural language is such mess [Simons]
Analysis must include definitions, search for simples, concept analysis, and Kant's analysis [Glock]