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Single Idea 2440

[from 'The Elm and the Expert' by Jerry A. Fodor, in 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 2. Propositional Attitudes ]

Full Idea

Propositional attitudes are really three-place relations, between a creature, a proposition, and a mode of presentation (which are sentences of Mentalese).

Gist of Idea

Propositional attitudes are propositions presented in a certain way

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (The Elm and the Expert [1993], §2.II)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'The Elm and the Expert' [MIT 1995], p.47


A Reaction

I'm not sure about 'really'! Why do we need a creature? Isn't 'hoping it will rain' a propositional attitude which some creature may or may not have? Fodor wants it to be physical, but it's abstract?