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Single Idea 22649

[from 'The Sentiment of Rationality' by William James, in 7. Existence / E. Categories / 2. Categorisation ]

Full Idea

Every way of classifying a thing is but a way of handling it for some particular purpose. Conceptions, 'kinds', are teleological instruments.

Gist of Idea

Classification can only ever be for a particular purpose

Source

William James (The Sentiment of Rationality [1882], p.24)

Book Reference

James,William: 'Selected Writings of William James', ed/tr. Bird,Graham [Everyman 1995], p.24


A Reaction

Could there not be ways of classifying which suit all of our purposes? If there were a naturally correct way to classifying things, then any pragmatist would probably welcome that. (I don't say there is such a way).