Single Idea 18975

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 3. Ontology of Concepts / b. Concepts as abilities]

Full Idea

Concepts for the pragmatist are things to come back into experience with, things to make us look for differences.

Gist of Idea

We return to experience with concepts, where they show us differences

Source

William James (Pragmatism - eight lectures [1907], Lec 3)

Book Reference

James,William: 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' [Dover 1995], p.37


A Reaction

That's good. I like both halves of this. Experience gives us the concepts, but then we 'come back' into experience equipped with them. Presumably animals can look for differences, but concepts enhance that hugely. Know the names of the flowers.