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Single Idea 3090

[filed under theme 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 8. Synonymy ]

Full Idea

The only sort of sameness of meaning we know is similarity in meaning, not exact sameness of meaning.

Gist of Idea

There is only similarity in meaning, never sameness in meaning

Source

Gilbert Harman (Thought [1973], 6.8)

Book Ref

Harman,Gilbert: 'Thought' [Princeton 1977], p.109

A Reaction

The Eiffel Tower and le tour Eiffel? If you want to be difficult, you can doubt whether the word 'fast' ever has exactly the same meaning in two separate usages of the word.

The 29 ideas from 'Thought'

6369 In negative coherence theories, beliefs are prima facie justified, and don't need initial reasons [Harman, by Pollock/Cruz]
3073 We see ourselves in the world as a map [Harman]
3074 People's reasons for belief are rarely conscious [Harman]
3075 Could a cloud have a headache if its particles formed into the right pattern? [Harman]
3076 Defining dispositions is circular [Harman]
3077 Reasoning might be defined in terms of its functional role, which is to produce knowledge [Harman]
3078 Speech acts, communication, representation and truth form a single theory [Harman]
3079 Truth in a language is explained by how the structural elements of a sentence contribute to its truth conditions [Harman]
3081 A theory of truth in a language must involve a theory of logical form [Harman]
3080 Logical form is the part of a sentence structure which involves logical elements [Harman]
3082 Ambiguity is when different underlying truth-conditional structures have the same surface form [Harman]
3083 Many predicates totally resist translation, so a universal underlying structure to languages is unlikely [Harman]
3084 Our underlying predicates represent words in the language, not universal concepts [Harman]
3085 Sentences are different from propositions, since two sentences can express one proposition [Harman]
3087 The analytic/synthetic distinction is a silly division of thought into encyclopaedia and dictionary [Harman]
3086 Are there any meanings apart from in a language? [Harman]
3088 Analyticity is postulated because we can't imagine some things being true, but we may just lack imagination [Harman]
3089 Only lack of imagination makes us think that 'cats are animals' is analytic [Harman]
3090 There is only similarity in meaning, never sameness in meaning [Harman]
3092 If you believe that some of your beliefs are false, then at least one of your beliefs IS false [Harman]
3093 Any two states are logically linked, by being entailed by their conjunction [Harman]
3094 You don't have to accept the conclusion of a valid argument [Harman]
3095 Induction is an attempt to increase the coherence of our explanations [Harman]
3097 We don't distinguish between accepting, and accepting as evidence [Harman]
3096 Coherence avoids scepticism, because it doesn't rely on unprovable foundations [Harman]
3098 Deductive logic is the only logic there is [Harman]
3099 Inference is never a conscious process [Harman]
3100 You have to reaffirm all your beliefs when you make a logical inference [Harman]
3101 Memories are not just preserved, they are constantly reinferred [Harman]