Single Idea 14899

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 4. Conceptual Analysis]

Full Idea

Why should we think that the products of conceptual analysis reveal anything about the deep structure of reality, rather than telling us about how some class of people think about and categorize reality?

Gist of Idea

Why think that conceptual analysis reveals reality, rather than just how people think?

Source

J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 1.2.2)

Book Reference

Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.16


A Reaction

One line, associated with Jackson, is that analysis tells you not about reality, but about what to make of your experiences of reality when you have them. It would be a foolish scientist who paid no attention to his or her conceptual scheme.