Single Idea 22430

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 4. Meaning as Truth-Conditions]

Full Idea

We understand under what circumstances to say of any given statement that it is true, just as clearly as we understand the statement itself.

Gist of Idea

If we understand a statement, we know the circumstances of its truth

Source

Willard Quine (Mr Strawson on Logical Theory [1953], II)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ways of Paradox and other essays' [Harvard 1976], p.142


A Reaction

This probably shouldn't be taken as a theory of meaning (in which Quine doesn't really believe) but as a plausible statement of correlated facts. Hypothetical assertions might be a problem case. 'If only I could be in two places at once'?