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Single Idea 6110

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / A. Overview of Logic / 1. Overview of Logic ]

Full Idea

It is doubtful whether the subject-predicate logic, with the substance-attribute metaphysic, would have been invented by people speaking a non-Aryan language.

Clarification

Most European languages (e.g. Greek) are 'Aryan'

Gist of Idea

Subject-predicate logic (and substance-attribute metaphysics) arise from Aryan languages

Source

Bertrand Russell (Logical Atomism [1924], p.151)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'Russell's Logical Atomism', ed/tr. Pears,David [Fontana 1972], p.151


A Reaction

This is not far off the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (e.g. Idea 3917), which Russell would never accept. I presume that Russell would see true logic as running deeper, and the 'Aryan' approach as just one possible way to describe it.

Related Idea

Idea 3917 Scientific thought is essentially a specialised part of Indo-European languages [Whorf]


The 14 ideas from 'Logical Atomism'

Russell gave up logical atomism because of negative, general and belief propositions [Russell, by Read]
It is logic, not metaphysics, that is fundamental to philosophy [Russell]
Some axioms may only become accepted when they lead to obvious conclusions [Russell]
Maths can be deduced from logical axioms and the logic of relations [Russell]
Subject-predicate logic (and substance-attribute metaphysics) arise from Aryan languages [Russell]
As propositions can be put in subject-predicate form, we wrongly infer that facts have substance-quality form [Russell]
Meaning takes many different forms, depending on different logical types [Russell]
To mean facts we assert them; to mean simples we name them [Russell]
'Simples' are not experienced, but are inferred at the limits of analysis [Russell]
A logical language would show up the fallacy of inferring reality from ordinary language [Russell]
Vagueness, and simples being beyond experience, are obstacles to a logical language [Russell]
Philosophy should be built on science, to reduce error [Russell]
Better to construct from what is known, than to infer what is unknown [Russell]
Philosophy is logical analysis, followed by synthesis [Russell]