Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Evolution of Logic', 'Varieties of Things' and 'The Very Idea of a Conceptual Scheme'

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2 ideas

7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 2. Reduction
Reduce by bridge laws (plus property identities?), by elimination, or by reducing talk [Macdonald,C]
     Full Idea: There are four kinds of reduction: the identifying of entities of two theories by means of bridge or correlation laws; the elimination of entities in favour of the other theory; reducing by bridge laws and property identities; and merely reducing talk.
     From: Cynthia Macdonald (Varieties of Things [2005], Ch.3 n5)
     A reaction: [She gives references] The idea of 'bridge laws' I regard with caution. If bridge laws are ceteris paribus, they are not much help, and if they are strict, or necessary, then there must be an underlying reason for that, which is probably elimination.
7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 8. Stuff / a. Pure stuff
Mass words do not have plurals, or numerical adjectives, or use 'fewer' [Hart,WD]
     Full Idea: Jespersen calls a noun a mass word when it has no plural, does not take numerical adjectives, and does not take 'fewer'.
     From: William D. Hart (The Evolution of Logic [2010], 3)
     A reaction: Jespersen was a great linguistics expert.