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Single Idea 7531

[from 'Letters to Frege' by Bertrand Russell, in 18. Thought / C. Content / 6. Broad Content ]

Full Idea

I believe Mont Blanc itself is a component part of what is actually asserted in the proposition 'Mont Blanc is more than 4000 metres high'; we do not assert the thought, which is a private psychological matter, but the object of the thought.

Gist of Idea

We don't assert private thoughts; the objects are part of what we assert

Source

Bertrand Russell (Letters to Frege [1902], 1904.12.12), quoted by Ray Monk - Bertrand Russell: Spirit of Solitude Ch.4

Book Reference

Monk,Ray: 'Bertrand Russell: Spirit of Solitude' [Vintage 1997], p.166


A Reaction

This would appear to be pretty much externalism about concepts, given that Russell would accept that other people know much more about Mont Blanc than he does, and their knowledge is included in what he asserts.