Single Idea 17722

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 2. Origin of Concepts / a. Origin of concepts]

Full Idea

The possession conditions for the concept 'red' of the colour red are tied to those very conditions which individuate the colour red.

Gist of Idea

The concept 'red' is tied to what actually individuates red things

Source

Christopher Peacocke (Explaining the A Priori [2000], p.267), quoted by Carrie Jenkins - Grounding Concepts 2.5

Book Reference

Jenkins,Carrie: 'Grounding Concepts' [OUP 2008], p.58


A Reaction

Jenkins reports that he therefore argues that we can learn something about the word 'red' from thinking about the concept 'red', which is his new theory of the a priori. I find 'possession conditions' and 'individuation' to be very woolly concepts.