15537
|
If cats are vague, we deny that the many cats are one, or deny that the one cat is many [Lewis]
|
|
Full Idea:
To deny that there are many cats on the mat (because removal of a few hairs seems to produce a new one), we must either deny that the many are cats, or else deny that the cats are many. ...I think both alternatives lead to successful solutions.
|
|
From:
David Lewis (Many, but almost one [1993], 'The paradox')
|
|
A reaction:
He credits the problem to Geach (and Tibbles), and says it is the same as Unger's 'problem of the many' (Idea 15536).
|
15539
|
Basic to pragmatics is taking a message in a way that makes sense of it [Lewis]
|
|
Full Idea:
The cardinal principle of pragmatics is that the right way to take what is said, if at all possible, is the way that makes sense of the message.
|
|
From:
David Lewis (Many, but almost one [1993], 'A better solution')
|
|
A reaction:
Thus when someone misuses a word, suggesting nonsense, we gloss over it, often without even mentioning it, because the underlying sense is obvious. A good argument for the existence of propositions. Lewis doesn't mention truth.
|
23223
|
The word 'respect' ranges from mere non-interference to the highest levels of reverence [Blackburn]
|
|
Full Idea:
The word 'respect' seems to span a spectrum from simply not interfering, passing by on the other side, through admiration, right up to reverence and deference. This makes it uniquely well placed for ideological purposes.
|
|
From:
Simon Blackburn (Religion and Respect [2005], p.2)
|
|
A reaction:
Most people understand the world perfectly well, but only when they fully understand the context. I've taken to distinguishing conditional from unconditional forms of respect. Everyone is entitled to the unconditional form, which has limits.
|