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Single Idea 1624

[from 'Two Dogmas of Empiricism' by Willard Quine, in 19. Language / E. Analyticity / 4. Analytic/Synthetic Critique ]

Full Idea

In defining analyticity an appeal to meanings seems natural, but that reduces to synonymy or definition. Definition is a will-o'-the-wisp, and synonymy is best understood by a priori appeal to analyticity, so we are back at the problem of analyticity.

Gist of Idea

If we try to define analyticity by synonymy, that leads back to analyticity

Source

Willard Quine (Two Dogmas of Empiricism [1953], p.32)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'From a Logical Point of View' [Harper and Row 1963], p.32


A Reaction

Quine is full of these over-neat sceptical arguments, saying everything is circular, or can never get started. Compare Aristotle's benign circle of virtuous people and virtuous actions.