more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 16490

[catalogued under 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 6. Logical Necessity]

Full Idea

The impossibility of seeing two colours simultaneously in a given direction feels like a logical impossibility.

Gist of Idea

Some facts about experience feel like logical necessities

Source

Bertrand Russell (Human Knowledge: its scope and limits [1948], 9)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Human Knowledge' [Routledge 2009], p.113


A Reaction

I presume all necessities feel equally necessary. If we distinguish necessities by what gives rise to them (a view I favour) then how strong they 'feel' will be irrelevant. We can see why Russell is puzzled by the phenomenon, though.