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Single Idea 18987

[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects ]

Full Idea

What shall we call a 'thing' anyhow? It seems quite arbitrary, for we carve out everything, just as we carve out constellations, to suit our human purposes.

Gist of Idea

A 'thing' is simply carved out of reality for human purposes

Source

William James (Pragmatism - eight lectures [1907], Lec 7)

Book Ref

James,William: 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' [Dover 1995], p.98

A Reaction

James wrote just before the discovery of galaxies, which are much more obviously 'things' than constellations like the Plough are! This idea suggests a connection between pragmatism and the nihilist view of objects of Van Inwagen and co.

The 20 ideas from 'Pragmatism - eight lectures'

18972 Ideas are true in so far as they co-ordinate our experiences [James]
18973 New opinions count as 'true' if they are assimilated to an individual's current beliefs [James]
18974 Truth is a species of good, being whatever proves itself good in the way of belief [James]
18971 Theories are practical tools for progress, not answers to enigmas [James]
18975 We return to experience with concepts, where they show us differences [James]
18976 Private experience is the main evidence for God [James]
18978 It is hard to grasp a cosmic mind which produces such a mixture of goods and evils [James]
18977 The wonderful design of a woodpecker looks diabolical to its victims [James]
18979 Things with parts always have some structure, so they always appear to be designed [James]
18980 If there is a 'greatest knower', it doesn't follow that they know absolutely everything [James]
18981 'Substance' is just a word for groupings and structures in experience [James]
18982 Pragmatism says all theories are instrumental - that is, mental modes of adaptation to reality [James]
18985 True thoughts are just valuable instruments of action [James]
18986 Truth is just a name for verification-processes [James]
18983 In many cases there is no obvious way in which ideas can agree with their object [James]
18984 True ideas are those we can assimilate, validate, corroborate and verify (and false otherwise) [James]
18987 A 'thing' is simply carved out of reality for human purposes [James]
18989 Pragmatism accepts any hypothesis which has useful consequences [James]
18991 If the God hypothesis works well, then it is true [James]
18990 Nirvana means safety from sense experience, and hindus and buddhists are just afraid of life [James]