more from John Heil

Single Idea 7020

[catalogued under 7. Existence / E. Categories / 5. Category Anti-Realism]

Full Idea

Concepts do not 'carve up' the world; the world already contains endless divisions, most of which we remain oblivious to or ignore.

Gist of Idea

Concepts don't carve up the world, which has endless overlooked or ignored divisions

Source

John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 05.3)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'From an Ontological Point of View' [OUP 2005], p.44


A Reaction

Concepts could still carve up the world, without ever aspiring to do a complete job. We carve up the aspects that interest us, but the majority of the carving is in response to natural divisions, not whimsical conventions.