Full Idea
The assumption, ontological and metaphysical, that there are events, is one without which we cannot make sense of much of our most common talk.
Gist of Idea
If we don't assume that events exist, we cannot make sense of our common talk
Source
Donald Davidson (Causal Relations [1967], §4)
Book Reference
Davidson,Donald: 'Essays on Actions and Events' [OUP 1982], p.162
A Reaction
He considers events to be unanalysable basics. Explanation of normal talk also needs ghosts, premonitions, telepathy and Father Christmas. It is extremely hard to individuate events, unless they are subatomic, and rather numerous.
Related Idea
Idea 18914 Davidson controversially proposed to quantify over events [Davidson, by Engelbretsen]