Single Idea 10734

[catalogued under 18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 8. Abstractionism Critique]

Full Idea

To understand the verb 'to strike' we must see that 'striking' and 'being struck' are different, but necessarily go together in event and thought; only in the context of a judgment can they be distinguished, when we think of both together.

Gist of Idea

Only a judgement can distinguish 'striking' from 'being struck'

Source

Peter Geach (Abstraction Reconsidered [1983], p.168)

Book Reference

'Knowledge and Mind', ed/tr. Ginet,C/Shoemaker,S [OUP 1983], p.168


A Reaction

Geach seems to have a strange notion that judgements are pure events which can precede all experience, and are the only ways we can come to understand experience. He needs to start from animals (or 'brutes', as he still calls them!).