more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 16476

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 1. Empiricism]

Full Idea

So long as a man avoids words which are condensed inductions (such as 'dog'), and confines himself to words that can describe a single experience, it is possible for a single experience to show that his words are true.

Gist of Idea

For simple words, a single experience can show that they are true

Source

Bertrand Russell (An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth [1940], 5)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth' [Penguin 1967], p.76


A Reaction

One might question whether a line can be drawn between the inductive and the non-inductive in this way. I'm inclined just to say that the simpler the proposition the less room there is for error in confirming it.