more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 8486

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 7. Seeing Resemblance]

Full Idea

A standard of similarity is in some sense innate. The spacing of qualities (such as red, pink and blue) can be explored and mapped in the laboratory by experiments. They are needed for all learning.

Gist of Idea

Standards of similarity are innate, and the spacing of qualities such as colours can be mapped

Source

Willard Quine (Natural Kinds [1969], p.123)

Book Reference

Orenstein,Alex: 'W.V. Quine' [Princeton 2002], p.123


A Reaction

This reasserts Hume's original point in more scientific terms. It is one of the undeniable facts about our perceptions of qualities and properties, no matter how platonist your view of universals may be.