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Full Idea
To define theoretical terms might be to show how to do without them, but it is better to say that it shows there is no good reason to want to do without them.
Gist of Idea
Defining terms either enables elimination, or shows that they don't require elimination
Source
David Lewis (How to Define Theoretical Terms [1970], Intro)
Book Ref
Lewis,David: 'Philosophical Papers Vol.1' [OUP 1983], p.78
| 15527 | Defining terms either enables elimination, or shows that they don't require elimination [Lewis] |
| 15526 | There is a method for defining new scientific terms just using the terms we already understand [Lewis] |
| 15528 | A Ramsey sentence just asserts that a theory can be realised, without saying by what [Lewis] |
| 15529 | It is better to have one realisation of a theory than many - but it may not always be possible [Lewis] |
| 15530 | A logically determinate name names the same thing in every possible world [Lewis] |
| 15531 | The Ramsey sentence of a theory says that it has at least one realisation [Lewis] |