green numbers give full details.     |    back to list of philosophers     |     unexpand these ideas

Ideas of N.L. Wilson, by Text

[Canadian, fl. 1959, Professor at McMaster University.]

1959 Substances without Substrata
p.59 We translate in a way that makes the largest possible number of statements true
     Full Idea: We select as designatum that individual which will make the largest possible number of statements true.
     From: N.L. Wilson (Substances without Substrata [1959]), quoted by Willard Quine - Word and Object II.§13 n
     A reaction: From the Quine's reference, it sounds as if Wilson was the originator of the well-known principle of charity, later taken up by Davidson. If so, he should be famous, because it strikes me as a piece of fundamental and important wisdom.