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Single Idea 6582

[filed under theme 10. Modality / C. Sources of Modality / 3. Necessity by Convention ]

Full Idea

Convention, to exist at all, must have a basis in something that is not conventional; conventions, to work, need something nonconventional to build upon and shape.

Gist of Idea

Conventions can only work if they are based on something non-conventional

Source

Robert Fogelin (Walking the Tightrope of Reason [2003], Ch.3)

Book Ref

Fogelin,Robert: 'Walking the Tightrope of Reason' [OUP 2004], p.75

A Reaction

Fogelin attributes his point to Hume. I agree entirely. No convention could ever possibly catch on in a society unless there were some point to it. If you can't see a point to a convention (like wearing ties) then start looking, because it's there.

The 22 ideas from 'Walking the Tightrope of Reason'

6557 Humans may never be able to attain a world view which is both rich and consistent [Fogelin]
6555 We are also irrational, with a unique ability to believe in bizarre self-created fictions [Fogelin]
6560 The law of noncontradiction is traditionally the most basic principle of rationality [Fogelin]
6565 The law of noncontradiction makes the distinction between asserting something and denying it [Fogelin]
6574 Legal reasoning is analogical, not deductive [Fogelin]
6568 A game can be played, despite having inconsistent rules [Fogelin]
6575 Philosophy may never find foundations, and may undermine our lives in the process [Fogelin]
6572 Deterrence, prevention, rehabilitation and retribution can come into conflict in punishments [Fogelin]
6573 Retributivists say a crime can be 'paid for'; deterrentists still worry about potential victims [Fogelin]
6583 Radical perspectivism replaces Kant's necessary scheme with many different schemes [Fogelin]
6586 Cynics are committed to morality, but disappointed or disgusted by human failings [Fogelin]
6582 Conventions can only work if they are based on something non-conventional [Fogelin]
6576 My view is 'circumspect rationalism' - that only our intellect can comprehend the world [Fogelin]
6589 Knowledge is legitimate only if all relevant defeaters have been eliminated [Fogelin]
6596 For coherentists, circularity is acceptable if the circle is large, rich and coherent [Fogelin]
6597 A rule of justification might be: don't raise the level of scrutiny without a good reason [Fogelin]
6588 Scepticism is cartesian (sceptical scenarios), or Humean (future), or Pyrrhonian (suspend belief) [Fogelin]
6590 Scepticism deals in remote possibilities that are ineliminable and set the standard very high [Fogelin]
6585 Rationality is threatened by fear of inconsistency, illusions of absolutes or relativism, and doubt [Fogelin]
6605 Critics must be causally entangled with their subject matter [Fogelin]
6607 The word 'beautiful', when deprived of context, is nearly contentless [Fogelin]
6604 Saying 'It's all a matter to taste' ignores the properties of the object discussed [Fogelin]