more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 16462

[catalogued under 7. Existence / E. Categories / 4. Category Realism]

Full Idea

The quest of a simplest, clearest overall pattern of canonical notation is not to be distinguished from a quest of ultimate categories, a limning of the most general traits of reality.

Clarification

'Limning' means sketching

Gist of Idea

The quest for ultimate categories is the quest for a simple clear pattern of notation

Source

Willard Quine (Word and Object [1960], §33)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Word and Object' [MIT 1969], p.161


A Reaction

I won't disagree, as long as we recognise that reality calls the shots, not the notation, and that even animals must have some sort of system of categories, achieved without 'notation'.