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2 ideas
17378 | Presumably molecular structure seems important because we never have the Twin Earth experience [Dupré] |
Full Idea: It is surely the absence of experiences like the one Putnam describes that makes it reasonable to attach to molecular structure at least most of the importance that Putnam ascribes to it. | |
From: John Dupré (The Disorder of Things [1993], 1) | |
A reaction: That is, whenever we experience water-like stuff, it always turns out to have the same molecular structure. Twin Earth is a nice thought experiment, except that XZY is virtually inconceivable. |
8791 | The concept of 'green' involves a battery of other concepts [Sellars] |
Full Idea: One can only have the concept of green by having a whole battery of concepts of which it is one element. | |
From: Wilfrid Sellars (Does Emp.Knowledge have Foundation? [1956], p.120) | |
A reaction: This points in the direction of holism about language and thought, but need not imply it. It might be that concepts have to be learned in small families. It is not clear, though, what is absolutely essential to 'green', except that it indicates colour. |