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Single Idea 1633

[from 'Ontological Relativity' by Willard Quine, in 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence ]

Full Idea

What makes ontological questions meaningless when taken absolutely is not universality but circularity. A question of the form "What is an F?" can only be answered with "An F is a G", which makes sense relative to the uncritical acceptance of G.

Gist of Idea

Absolute ontological questions are meaningless, because the answers are circular definitions

Source

Willard Quine (Ontological Relativity [1968], p.53)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ontological Relativity and Other Essays' [Columbia 1969], p.53