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Single Idea 17377

[from 'The Disorder of Things' by John Dupré, in 7. Existence / E. Categories / 1. Categories ]

Full Idea

Classification pervades any descriptive use of language whatever.

Gist of Idea

All descriptive language is classificatory

Source

John Dupré (The Disorder of Things [1993], 1)

Book Reference

Dupré,John: 'The Disorder of Things' [Harvard 1995], p.18


A Reaction

This is because, as Aristotle well knew, language consists almost entirely of universals (apart from the proper names). Language just is classification.