back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 2480

[from 'In a Critical Condition' by Jerry A. Fodor, in 18. Thought / B. Mechanics of Thought / 4. Language of Thought ]

Full Idea

Thinking can't just be in sequences of English words since, notoriously, thought needs to be ambiguity-free in ways that mere word sequences are not.

Gist of Idea

Language is ambiguous, but thought isn't

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (In a Critical Condition [2000], Ch. 6)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'In Critical Condition' [MIT 2000], p.64


A Reaction

I think this is a strong argument in favour of (at least) propositions. Thoughts are unambiguous, but their expression need not be. Sentences could be expanded to achieve clarity.