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Single Idea 16428

[from 'Conceptual truth and metaphysical necessity' by Robert C. Stalnaker, in 18. Thought / C. Content / 6. Broad Content ]

Full Idea

Meanings ain't in the head. Putnam's famous slogan actually fits Frege's anti-psychologism better than it fits Purnam's and Burge's anti-individualism. The point is that intensions of any kind are abstract objects.

Gist of Idea

Meanings aren't in the head, but that is because they are abstract

Source

Robert C. Stalnaker (Conceptual truth and metaphysical necessity [2003], 2)

Book Reference

Stalnaker,Robert C.: 'Ways a World Might Be' [OUP 2003], p.204


A Reaction

If intensions are abstract, that leaves (for me) the question of what they are abstracted from. I take it that there are specific brain events that are being abstractly characterised. What do we call those?