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Single Idea 6977

[filed under theme 18. Thought / C. Content / 1. Content ]

Full Idea

I have been convinced by arguments (e.g. of Perry, Castaņeda and Lewis) that egocentric or de se content is irreducibly so.

Clarification

'De se' (Latin) means referring to oneself

Gist of Idea

Egocentric or de se content seems to be irreducibly so

Source

Frank Jackson (From Metaphysics to Ethics [1998], Ch.1)

Book Ref

Jackson,Frank: 'From Metaphysics to Ethics' [OUP 2000], p.19

A Reaction

This is associated with the use of indexicals (like 'I' and 'now') in language. Quine disagrees, and should not be written off. Any theory of content, concepts, meaning etc. must clearly taken account of such subjective language.