display all the ideas for this combination of texts
1 idea
21551 | Empirical words need ostensive definition, which makes them egocentric [Russell] |
Full Idea: The meanings of all empirical words depend ultimately upon ostensive definitions, ostensive definitions depend upon experience, and that experience is egocentric. | |
From: Bertrand Russell (Mr Strawson on Referring [1957], p.122) | |
A reaction: He seems to imply that this makes them partly subjective, but I don't see why an objective consensus can't be reached when making an ostensive definition. We just need to clearly agree what 'that' refers to. |