Single Idea 14219

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 1. Nature of Relations]

Full Idea

Roads in the directional sense (A-to-B or B-to-A) are merely roads in the adirectional sense up which a direction has been imposed.

Gist of Idea

Language imposes a direction on a road which is not really part of the road

Source

Kit Fine (Neutral Relations [2000], 1)

Book Reference

-: 'Philosophical Review' [-], p.6


A Reaction

This is Fine's linguistic objection to the standard view of relations. It is undeniable that language imposes an order where it may not exist ('Bob and Jane play tennis'), and this fact is very significant in discussing relations.

Related Idea

Idea 14217 The 'standard' view of relations is that they hold of several objects in a given order [Fine,K]