more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 9000

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / C. Ontology of Logic / 4. Logic by Convention]

Full Idea

When a convention is incapable of being communicated until after its adoption, its role is not clear.

Gist of Idea

If a convention cannot be communicated until after its adoption, what is its role?

Source

Willard Quine (Truth by Convention [1935], p.106)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ways of Paradox and other essays' [Harvard 1976], p.106


A Reaction

Quine is discussing the basis of logic, but the point applies to morality - that if there is said to be a convention at work, the concepts of morality must already exist to get the conventional framework off the ground. What is it that comes first?