Single Idea 9208

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy]

Full Idea

Philosophers with a new concept are like children with a new toy; their world shrinks to one in which it takes centre stage.

Gist of Idea

Philosophers with a new concept are like children with a new toy

Source

Kit Fine (Intro to 'Modality and Tense' [2005], p.10)

Book Reference

Fine,Kit: 'Modality and Tense' [OUP 2005], p.10


A Reaction

A wonderfully accurate observation, I'm afraid. You can trace the entire history of the subject as a wave of obsessions with exciting new ideas. Fine is referring to a posteriori necessities and possible worlds.