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Full Idea
Studying the criteria of translation is a way of focusing on criteria of identity for conceptual schemes.
Gist of Idea
Criteria of translation give us the identity of conceptual schemes
Source
Donald Davidson (The Very Idea of a Conceptual Scheme [1974], p.184)
Book Ref
Davidson,Donald: 'Inquiries into Truth and Interpretation (2nd ed)' [OUP 2001], p.184
A Reaction
This is why it was an inspired idea of Quine's to make translation a central topic in philosophy. We must be cautious, though, about saying that the language is the conceptual scheme, as that leaves animals with no scheme at all.
19044 | Saying truths fit experience adds nothing to truth; nothing makes sentences true [Davidson] |
6398 | Different points of view make sense, but they must be plotted on a common background [Davidson] |
6399 | Criteria of translation give us the identity of conceptual schemes [Davidson] |
6400 | Without the dualism of scheme and content, not much is left of empiricism [Davidson] |