Ontological relativity and the inscrutability of reference

1971 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Miller Thomason
Keyword(s):  
Ontological Relativity ◽  
Inscrutability Of Reference

Inscrutability of Reference as a Result of Quine’s Structuralism

2020 ◽  
pp. 82-95
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Peregrin
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Thought Experiment ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Peculiar Form ◽  
Inscrutability Of Reference

In his later writings Quine is increasingly explicit about the fact that his view of language is, in a certain sense, structuralistic. Structuralist interpretations of non-empirical, especially mathematical theories are now commonplace, but this chapter argues that Quine’s thought experiment with radical translation can be interpreted as showing that even empirical theories cannot be anchored in reality so firmly as to evade the same structuralist nature. Therefore, this peculiar form of structuralism extends to all our theories––the terms of all of them are best seen as meaning not definite substances, but nodes in certain structures. Moreover, radical translation shows––or purports to show––that the structure behind any natural language allows for some non-trivial ‘automorphisms’––that mapping the meaning of rabbit on that of undetached rabbit part, provided we make an appropriate remapping of many other meanings, does not change the language. Inscrutability of reference is then only a direct consequence.

Indétermination de la traduction et indétermination de la référence: quelques remarques sur les quatre premiers essais du recueil Ontological Relativity

Dialogue ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-273
Author(s):  
Jean Largeault
Keyword(s):  
Ontological Relativity

Pour notre excuse, Quine est un auteur difficile. Si la version française de Word and Object (en abrégé WO), annoncée chez Payot, est correcte, elle rendra service, car il est malaisé de lire Quine dans le texte.

A Test of Ontological Relativity

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Steve Myers
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Natural Science ◽  
William James ◽  
Analytical Psychology ◽  
Radical Empiricism ◽  
Psychological Types ◽  
Ontological Relativity

Abstract Jung saw a role for the methods of natural science in analytical psychology alongside other ways of developing of knowledge. This paper puts a cryptic and undeveloped idea in Psychological Types to the test using the principles of Karl Popper’s philosophy of science. The idea is a combination of Jung’s philosophy, esse in anima, and his theory of opposites applied to politics. It is explained using a term coined by the philosopher W.V.O Quine—ontological relativity. There are key similarities between the two philosophical concepts, due to Jung and Quine having a common influence in William James’ radical empiricism. The ontological relativity of political opposites is subjected to three tests that attempt to falsify it. All three attempts at falsification fail, which therefore provides some support for the idea. However, there are a number of anomalous results that raise significant questions requiring further research. This paper should therefore be viewed as the first step in a programme of research to examine the ontological relativity of political opposites that is inherent within esse in anima.

Analogy and the Inscrutability of Reference

1997 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-272
Author(s):  
William Flesch
Keyword(s):  
Inscrutability Of Reference
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document