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Full Idea
Whenever possible, substitute constructions out of known entities for inferences to unknown entities.
Gist of Idea
Better to construct from what is known, than to infer what is unknown
Source
Bertrand Russell (Logical Atomism [1924], p.161), quoted by Bernard Linsky - Russell's Metaphysical Logic 7
Book Ref
Linsky,Bernard: 'Russell's Metaphysical Logic' [CSLI 1999], p.110
A Reaction
In 1919 he said that the alternative, of 'postulating' new entities, has 'all the advantages of theft over honest toil' [IMP p.71]. This is Russell's commitment to 'constructing' everything, even his concept of matter. Arithmetic as PA is postulation.
Related Idea
Idea 21706 At first matter is basic and known by sense-data; later Russell says matter is constructed [Russell, by Linsky,B]
| 10968 | Russell gave up logical atomism because of negative, general and belief propositions [Russell, by Read] |
| 6107 | It is logic, not metaphysics, that is fundamental to philosophy [Russell] |
| 6109 | Some axioms may only become accepted when they lead to obvious conclusions [Russell] |
| 6108 | Maths can be deduced from logical axioms and the logic of relations [Russell] |
| 6110 | Subject-predicate logic (and substance-attribute metaphysics) arise from Aryan languages [Russell] |
| 6111 | As propositions can be put in subject-predicate form, we wrongly infer that facts have substance-quality form [Russell] |
| 6112 | Meaning takes many different forms, depending on different logical types [Russell] |
| 6113 | To mean facts we assert them; to mean simples we name them [Russell] |
| 6114 | 'Simples' are not experienced, but are inferred at the limits of analysis [Russell] |
| 6116 | A logical language would show up the fallacy of inferring reality from ordinary language [Russell] |
| 6115 | Vagueness, and simples being beyond experience, are obstacles to a logical language [Russell] |
| 6117 | Philosophy should be built on science, to reduce error [Russell] |
| 21722 | Better to construct from what is known, than to infer what is unknown [Russell] |
| 6118 | Philosophy is logical analysis, followed by synthesis [Russell] |