Full Idea
The present suggestion is that indexical concepts are ineliminable because without them agency would be impossible: when I imagine myself divested of indexical thoughts employing only centreless mental representations, I am deprived of the power to act.
Gist of Idea
Indexical concepts are indispensable, as we need them for the power to act
Source
Colin McGinn (Subjective View: sec qualities and indexicals [1983], 6)
Book Reference
McGinn,Colin: 'The Subjective View' [OUP 1983], p.104
A Reaction
A nice clear statement of the view developed by Perry and Lewis. I agree with Cappelen and Dever that it is entirely wrong, and that indexical thought is entirely eliminable, and nothing special.
Related Idea
Idea 18407 Indexicality is not significantly connected to agency [Cappelen/Dever]