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Single Idea 3099

[filed under theme 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 1. On Reason ]

Full Idea

Inference is never a conscious process.

Clarification

'Inference' is rational movement from one idea to another

Gist of Idea

Inference is never a conscious process

Source

Gilbert Harman (Thought [1973], 11.2)

Book Ref

Harman,Gilbert: 'Thought' [Princeton 1977], p.179

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]