Single Idea 4573

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 5. Language Relativism]

Full Idea

If it is claimed that linguistic differences significantly correlate with cultural differences, it must therefore be possible to identify the linguistic differences independently from the cultural ones.

Gist of Idea

If it is claimed that language correlates with culture, we must be able to identify the two independently

Source

David E. Cooper (Philosophy and the Nature of Language [1973], §5.1)

Book Reference

Cooper,David E.: 'Philosophy and the Nature of Language' [Longman 1979], p.105


A Reaction

This is a basic objection to any extreme relativist version of the S-P hypothesis. They are part of the conspiracy to overemphasise language in philosophy, and they are wrong.