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Single Idea 20297

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

Full Idea

What's peculiar about the analytic is that denying it seem unintelligible. Far from unrevisability explaining analyticity, it seems to be analyticitiy that explains unrevisability; we only balk at denying unmarried bachelors because that's what it means!

Gist of Idea

Analytic statements are undeniable (because of meaning), rather than unrevisable

Source

Georges Rey (The Analytic/Synthetic Distinction [2013], 3.7)

Book Ref

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.9


A Reaction

This is a criticism of Quine, who attacked analyticity when it is understood as unrevisability. Obviously we could revise the concept of 'bachelor', if our marriage customs changed a lot. Rey seems right here.

Related Idea

Idea 11170 Analytic truth may only be true in virtue of the meanings of certain terms [Fine,K]


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]