more from David Lewis

Single Idea 15545

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 1. Nature of Analysis]

Full Idea

I suggest that Armstrong has an unfamiliar notion of analysis, as not primarily a quest for definitions, but as a quest for truth-makers.

Gist of Idea

Armstrong's analysis seeks truthmakers rather than definitions

Source

David Lewis (Armstrong on combinatorial possibility [1992], 'The demand')

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' [CUP 1999], p.203


A Reaction

This is not a dichotomy, I think, but a shift of emphasis. A definition will probably refer to truthmakers; a decent account of truthmakers would approximate a definition.