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Single Idea 20294

[filed under theme 19. Language / E. Analyticity / 1. Analytic Propositions ]

Full Idea

If Bob is married to Sue, then Sue is married to Bob. If x bigger than y, and y bigger than z, x is bigger than z. The symmetry of 'marriage' or transitivity of 'bigger than' are not obviously 'contained in' the corresponding thoughts.

Gist of Idea

'Married' does not 'contain' its symmetry, nor 'bigger than' its transitivity

Source

Georges Rey (The Analytic/Synthetic Distinction [2013], 1.2)

Book Ref

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.3


A Reaction

[Also 'if something is red, then it is coloured'] This is a Fregean criticism of Kant. It is not so much that Kant was wrong, as that the concept of analyticity is seen to have a much wider application than Kant realised. Especially in mathematics.

Related Idea

Idea 20291 If the predicate is contained in the subject of a judgement, it is analytic; otherwise synthetic [Kant]


The 9 ideas from 'The Analytic/Synthetic Distinction'

'Married' does not 'contain' its symmetry, nor 'bigger than' its transitivity [Rey]
Analytic judgements can't be explained by contradiction, since that is what is assumed [Rey]
Analytic statements are undeniable (because of meaning), rather than unrevisable [Rey]
The traditional a priori is justified without experience; post-Quine it became unrevisable by experience [Rey]
If we claim direct insight to what is analytic, how do we know it is not sub-consciously empirical? [Rey]
Externalist synonymy is there being a correct link to the same external phenomena [Rey]
The meaning properties of a term are those which explain how the term is typically used [Rey]
An intrinsic language faculty may fix what is meaningful (as well as grammatical) [Rey]
Research throws doubts on the claimed intuitions which support analyticity [Rey]