more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 1634

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 5. Language Relativism]

Full Idea

Relativity has two components: to the choice of a background theory, and to the choice of how to translate the object theory into the background theory.

Gist of Idea

Two things are relative - the background theory, and translating the object theory into the background theory

Source

Willard Quine (Ontological Relativity [1968], p.67)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ontological Relativity and Other Essays' [Columbia 1969], p.67