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Single Idea 4574

[from 'Philosophy and the Nature of Language' by David E. Cooper, in 7. Existence / E. Categories / 5. Category Anti-Realism ]

Full Idea

If our most basic concepts, like time, space, substance or causality, are not shared by some peoples, it puts paid to the cherished ideal of philosophers to discover a set of concepts or categories which any rational human must employ in his thinking.

Gist of Idea

If some peoples do not have categories like time or cause, they can't be essential features of rationality

Source

David E. Cooper (Philosophy and the Nature of Language [1973], §5.2)

Book Reference

Cooper,David E.: 'Philosophy and the Nature of Language' [Longman 1979], p.114


A Reaction

This seems to be a place where a priori philosophy (Aristotle,Kant,Hegel) meets empirical research (Whorf). However, interpreting the research is so fraught with problems it drives you back to the a priori…