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Single Idea 9000

[from 'Truth by Convention' by Willard Quine, in 5. Theory of Logic / C. Ontology of Logic / 4. Logic by Convention ]

Full Idea

When a convention is incapable of being communicated until after its adoption, its role is not clear.

Gist of Idea

If a convention cannot be communicated until after its adoption, what is its role?

Source

Willard Quine (Truth by Convention [1935], p.106)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ways of Paradox and other essays' [Harvard 1976], p.106


A Reaction

Quine is discussing the basis of logic, but the point applies to morality - that if there is said to be a convention at work, the concepts of morality must already exist to get the conventional framework off the ground. What is it that comes first?